Goodman Theatre Presents THE WOLVES Review – REALISM AT ITS FINEST

The reality of being a teenage girl is brought to life with staunch realism in the highly entertaining THE WOLVES. This ensemble portrait of a girls soccer team is a beautiful coming of age drama that captures the pressures and horrors to be found along the way.

NON-TRADITIONAL STORYTELLING

The play centers on a girls soccer team warming up before games. While there is no traditional plot line, we learn each girl’s story through interactions with teammates and friends. Gossip and friendly, sometimes not so friendly, teasing bring out the struggles of each girl’s individuality. The subtlety perfectly mirrors the way human beings hide their most intimate vulnerabilities so friends will not see the difficulties. Playwright Sarah DeLappe’s brilliant, naturalistic writing works on inexplicable levels.

AUTHENTIC PERFORMANCES

The set is encapsulated in netting, which sets the scene perfectly and makes the theatre-goers the crowd. The stark green color of the fake turf is unmistakable as a reminder of a sports arena. The nets are used to bounce balls and act as an obvious barrier between the team and the audience. The feeling of being in a local sports arena is certainly achieved by set designer Collette Pollard.

Beyond bringing the intricate writing by DeLappe to life, the cast is forced to perform soccer drills. Each actor not only holds her own as a character but embodies a real soccer player through ball handling and endurance training. The business on stage becomes a character in itself.

GOODMAN THEATRE CREATES AN ENERGETIC ENSEMBLE

Just like a team of any sort, this play lives and dies by its ensemble. Each actor carries an incredible amount of weight in the storytelling, given its unconventional nature. Multiple conversations are often happening at the same time. Each actor needs to make sure the messages come across clearly. Any weak link would stick out. Much to the delight of the audience, however, there is no weak link in this production.