Feature

Theater: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

<em>The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity </em>is the only play I&rsquo;ve ever seen that could appeal to wrestling fans and theatergoers alike, said Chris Jones in the <em>Chicago Tribune.</em>

Victory Gardens Biograph Theater
Chicago
(773) 871-3000

****

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity is the only play I’ve ever seen that could appeal to wrestling fans and theatergoers alike, said Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune. A two-bit wrestling villain and would-be promoter named Macedonio Guerra (aka Mace) narrates this tale of a bout between wrestling’s fictional golden boy, Chad Deity, and Guerra’s recent discovery. Guerra has taken an Indian wrestler named Vigneshwar Padujar, dressed him like Osama bin Laden, and given the character the name “Sleeper Cell.” Playwright Kristoffer Diaz pours an obvious love for the sport into “impressively credible” fight scenes, creating a memorable and highly entertaining piece of theater. Chad Deity is one part “visceral takedown” of American jingoism, one part “full-on, body-slamming theatrical wrestling match.”

“I was hooked from the word ‘go’ on Diaz’s altogether eclectic (and sure to be controversial) play,” said Hedy Weiss in the Chicago Sun-Times. My fascination began with the narrator —one of those wrestlers “whose job it is to make the high-paid, often untalented ‘star wrestlers’ look great.” Actor Desmin Borges gives a star-making, “out-of-nowhere” performance in the role, and throughout the play “has the audience eating out of his hand.” Director Edward Torres creates a convincing production that expertly serves the strengths of Diaz’s script. By brilliantly deconstructing the layers of “rage, resentment, fear, stereotyping, pop theatricality, and metaphor making” that are involved in creating the spectacle of professional wrestling, Diaz has given us a true work of “blue-collar performance art.”

Recommended

U.S. to crack down on guns going south while Mexico works to stop fentanyl heading north
A CBP agent at the U.S.-Mexico border in San Ysidro, California.
Stopping the Flow

U.S. to crack down on guns going south while Mexico works to stop fentanyl heading north

Lebanon to reverse daylight savings decision
Clock tower in Lebanon.
really, what time is it?

Lebanon to reverse daylight savings decision

The extreme weather events of 2023
An illustration of a tornado and wind-swept palm trees
In depth

The extreme weather events of 2023

Most of Silicon Valley Bank bought by First Citizens, FDIC says
An entrance to a Silicon Valley Bank
Fire Sale

Most of Silicon Valley Bank bought by First Citizens, FDIC says

Most Popular

5 toons about Trump's possible indictment
Political Cartoon
Feature

5 toons about Trump's possible indictment

Florida principal forced to resign over Michelangelo's David display
The statue of &#039;David&#039; by Michelangelo.
Controversy Over David

Florida principal forced to resign over Michelangelo's David display

Pope Francis updates sex abuse laws for Catholic Church
Pope Francis.
Francis Fights Back

Pope Francis updates sex abuse laws for Catholic Church