When the original play was written, it was one hundred year ago. The Broadway show was a successful spoof on the ambition of politicians, the corruption of the police force, and the headline grabbing, nutty life of a reporter in a big city. Those same themes ring just as true in 2026. This talented group of eight actors of approximate middle school age brought this comedy to life at Prana with style and verve.
The reporters from six competing newspaper all sit around one desk as the show opens at Chicago’s Criminal Court Building. They are convincingly played by Alyssa de Vlaam, Connor Frey, Rosie Foley, Winslow Friend, Scarlett Hemming, Samantha Reed and Lexi Chek. As a supposed murderer sits on death row, they lounge, play cards, and smoke cigarettes. Rather than upstanding reporters earnestly searching for the truth, they seem more like lowlifes, bored and annoyed by the constantly ringing telephones. There are plenty of “ain’ts,” “he don’ts” and “God damns.” The dialogue however, is snappy and almost frenetic. These young actors deliver their lightning fast lines with amazing clarity, however.
As a quite lovely but frustrated fiancé (Samantha Reed), and a dashingly handsome reporter trying to quit his reporter’s job (Graham Lemieux) pop on and off the stage, the fun begins. She is waiting in a taxi with her mother to catch a train to take reporter Hildy away from all this, but Hildy keeps getting himself more deeply involved in the case of this supposed Bolshevik who awaits execution by hanging. Once there is news in the case, the languid reporters spring to life and rush out to best each other in getting the exclusive first.
Various mishaps abound. Peggy, the fiancé, is replaced by her mother rushing in to demand that Hildy come away (a great future mother-in-law role played by Scarlett Hemming in a luscious fur coat.) Then it turns out that the supposed murderer is a kindly sort, and he rolls in the window and onto a couch. (Connor Frey.) Tender hearted Mollie (Samantha Reed) has sympathy for the murderer, who never meant to shoot anyone. Lindy gives away all his money to secure a story. Chicago Mayor Fred (Winslow Friend) wants to fire Sheriff Hartman (Lexi Chek.) A reprieve from the governor for the prisoner is bribed away. Editor Walter Burns (Rosie Foley) finally becomes more than a phone call and actually appears in the newsroom at the end. Greedy politicians who want a murderer caught and convicted so they can run on a ticket of law and order in their next elections sound very relevant today.
The set, with its very convincing old fashioned telephones made for the occasion and an ancient typewriter, portray the scene perfectly. The period costumes, from lush to casual, give the audience a real feeling of being back in the 1920s. Those hats! In 1940 a retelling of this story with the twist of crack reporter Hildy becoming a woman (Rosalind Russell) and the editor (Cary Grant) who will do anything to keep her on the staff and not get married made for a great film. These young thespians did an amazing job of playing multiple roles and keeping the dialogue just as speedy as in the original. Joe Duda, a professional actor and longtime friend and assistant musical director of Prana, gamely stepped in to play a role as Mr. Pincas, a role he played at Prana in 2009 as well as running sound for this show. Hurrahs to all for another boffo play put on by amazing director Roberta Weiner.
