Strong cast drives 'Cadillac' to excellence
Specters from David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross" linger around the periphery of its successor, "Cadillac," Bill Jepsen's terrific drama about the used car game, in its world premiere at Chicago Dramatists.
They echo in the Lindy Motors sales staff: single mom Robin (played with hard-won dignity by Kathy Logelin) desperate to make quota and save her job and hotshot Gary, played with cocky charm by Ian Forester, a dabbler relentlessly pursuing the one-month sales record and the $5,000 bonus that accompanies it. Gary's competition includes current record-holder, Art (a pitch-perfect Rob Riley as a folksy sage), a veteran salesman who understands that selling means serving, and serving well translates to success.
Presiding over his staff on a tumultuous last selling day of the month is finance manager Howard (excellent, credible work by Craig Spidle), a fundamentally decent man with a quota to meet and a judgment error to answer for.
Jepsen addresses familiar themes: the conflict between the old-school methods and new, and the challenge of balancing conscience with economic self-interest. Original it's not, but "Cadillac" is a crisp and satisfying glimpse into the psychology of selling.
The action unfolds in Howard's nondescript office -- authentically rendered from its garish lighting and cheap paneling to its scuffed linoleum floor by set designer Kevin Depinet.
"Cadillac" isn't a perfect ride. The ending is abrupt and the play could work just as well as a one-act, but the dialogue is lively. And there are moments like the fugue-like telephone scene -- brilliantly orchestrated by director Edward Sobel -- that are inspired. Moreover, Jepsen's wheeler-dealers are as distinctly drawn as Mamet's, but more humane. Where the "Glengarry" gang inspires distrust, Jepsen's crew invites sympathy. The well-matched actors have a great sense of ensemble (credit Sobel for the savvy casting). Their unfussy performances reflect the Chicago's blue-collar style of acting at its best.
Also deserving mention are Steve Ratcliff and Laurie Larson as a wary couple looking for a deal. Then there's Gene Cordon, brilliant in the supporting role as Fred -- the play's conscience -- a retired printer whose longtime dream of owning a Cadillac is jeopardized by his son. Low-key and perceptive, Cordon delivers a memorable performance as a man resigned to his second choice whose presence suggests that integrity still has a place within a business model.
"Cadillac" comes on the heels of another Chicago Dramatists triumph -- Keith Huff's blue-collar drama "A Steady Rain," which gets a remount later this month at the Royal George Studio Theatre. If this reflects what's to come, theatergoers are in for a very sweet ride.
"Cadillac"
3½ stars out of four
Location: Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Times: 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 24
Running Time: About 1 hour, 45 minutes, including intermission
Tickets: $22, $28
Parking: Street and metered parking available
Box office: (312) 363-0639 or www.chicagodramatists.org
Rating: For adults, contains strong language