'Random Theft and Other Acts' opens at Steel Beam Theatre, St. Charles

Marge Uhlarik-Boller, director of “Random Theft and Other Acts,” debuting at the Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles this weekend, knows people hate to leave their warm houses to attend the theater in winter.

However, Uhlarik-Boller feels the play is well worth a venture into the chilly weather.

“I think it's going to be a nice respite from a cold winter's night,” she said. “It's funny, but there's a lot of interesting surprises in the script.”

The show opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, and runs weekends through Feb. 5. Tickets are $23-28.

Uhlarik-Boller first read the script by Elgin native John David Westby approximately 25 years ago when she was directing him as an actor in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” At first, she was hesitant to read it.

“Usually when actors say that they have a script, you kind of go, ‘OK,'” she kidded. “But, I read it and I loved it, but I haven't had the opportunity to produce it.”

“It's both a comedy and drama,” said St. Charles resident Anne Keen, who plays Margie in the play. “There are definitely some moments that punch you in the gut, so I would call it a dark comedy.”

Sean Hargadon of Elgin was eager to audition for the production because of his familiarity with Westby, as both an actor and a playwright that dates back to 1995.

“I saw John doing a play. He was hilarious and fun to watch, a good actor, a solid actor,” Hargadon said.

“Not long after, I met him in person and he was gracious enough to call me a couple times. It was funny, because we were coming from two different places,” Hargadon continued. “He was established and I was just starting out and he shared a lot of things with me, which was really exciting and helped me.”

When Hargadon saw the play would be produced, he set up an audition.

“I thought, wouldn't that be fun, to audition 20 years later and maybe get a part in it.”

He got the job.

The story is dark comedy, which the troop refers to as “Fargo-esque.”

“Fargo” is a 1996 movie which mixes violence and drama with dark humor.

“What's cool about this play is that it's a comedy, but it's about a bank heist. There are funny lines and there is also a whole machination of a robbery,” said Uhlarik-Boller, who describes herself as a fan of dark comedy. “There's violence and murder.”

So much so, Elgin native Uhlarik-Boller hired fight coordinator Bruce Worthel of North Aurora.

“There's a lot of violence so I had to have a fight coordinator on board to stage interesting fights, things that don't look the same all the time,” she said.

The play revolves around Margie's plan to rob her ex-husband's family's bank.

“Margie is one of the masterminds of the bank robbery,” Keen said. “It starts with her because she robs her ex-husband's family's bank for revenge.”

“She's been plotting this because it takes place during the housing crash and he was a Wall Street guy and he took off after making all these bad deals and left her holding the bag,” she added.

Hargadon plays Jack, a possibly overeducated individual who has had some trouble placing himself in the world.

“He has a hard time holding down a job, but no hard time talking,” he observed. “He's one of those characters that has a philosophy about life and idea about life that gets majorly challenged. He goes on a journey.

“He's not the same guy at the end, by a mile,” Hargadon added. “The beginning is a comedy, but by the end it's about getting out alive.”

According to Uhlarik-Boller, Westby's strength comes from his mastery with words. “John's got great dialogue. He creates unique characters that have their own voice,” she said.

“He's a very talented playwright,” Uhlarik-Boller added. “And, I have a superstrong ensemble, a group of great actors.”

Other cast members include Crystal Skipworth of Bartlett, Larry Boller of Elgin, Justin Schaller of Hoffman Estates, Frank Wiltse of Naperville, and R. Scott Purdy of St. Charles.

For tickets or details, visit steelbeamtheatre.com.

If you go

What: “Random Theft and Other Acts,” a dark comedy by Elgin native John David Westby

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 13- Feb. 5

Where: Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles

Tickets: $23-28. Visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com or call (630) 587-8521