Olympia Dukakis re-enters world of directing with local show

Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis ("Moonstruck") is best known as film and stage actor. But when Chicago-based actor Carmen Roman showed her the script to "Botanic Garden" - currently running in previews at Victory Gardens - she knew she had to direct it.

"I can't remember what the last play was I directed," Dukakis said. "It was eight or so year ago. But the play has something in it that is important. I thought it would be a great play to re-enter the world of directing."

The new play, receiving its world premiere, concerns a woman who lost her husband several years ago. It focuses on what Dukakis describes as her "struggles to say yes in a life of loss and rejection, and dejection. It's about getting on with your life."

As soon as Dukakis signed on, she began to work with Roman, Roman's husband, James Leaming, and playwright Todd Logan.

"I came to Chicago for three days late last year," Dukakis said. "And I worked with the playwright and the designers. It was very intense. The playwright has cut 22 pages from the play since we started."

Dukakis also agreed to do "Botanic Garden" because she wanted a chance to work with Roman, who she knew from Roman's appearances on the stage in New York. So far Dukakis has not been disappointed.

"I love working with Carmen Roman (who stars in the play with her real life husband Jim Lemming)," Dukakis said. "She is an extraordinary woman and a very gifted artist."

Has directing Roman turned this consummate actor into a director?

"I am learning from these actors," Dukakis said. "I am not really a director in the sense that it is my career, to direct. I like to do a lot of things. I like to teach. I like to produce; I love putting people together, writers, actors, designers."

What has Dukakis learned from directing "Botanic Garden? "

"I am learning." Dukakis said with a laugh, "to keep my mouth shut and let things just happen."

"I am also learning," she said, "that other people have ideas, too. And that I get such a pleasure working with the community of people, the actors, the designers. And I am learning you have to let go when you direct. I had an entrance that I had really planned out, that I really loved. I had to let it go. So I let it go. That's theater."

"Botanic Garden" opens Friday and runs through March 9 at the Victory Gardens Theater Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.; $25-$40, (773) 871-3000 and www.victorygardens.org.