Attempts On Her Life
by Martin Crimp
About Attempts On Her Life
An artist. A terrorist. A child. A brand new car. A pornographic movie star.
These are all the things that Anne can be.
Attempts On Her Life by Martin Crimp takes an uncompromising look at our insatiable cultural consumption. A shape-shifting, multilingual, occasionally musical journey through media, storytelling, and late-stage capitalism, this intimate performance invites audience members to reckon with how we see one another and ourselves.
Chicago Reader Recommended, 3 out of 3 stars from The Chicago Tribune, and extended twice due to Popular demand
ENSEMBLE
Bide Akande
Clifton Frei
Amy Gorelow
Mikayla De Guzman
Felix Mayes
Seoyoung Park
VOICE OVERS
Alfredo Antillon, Myca Cue, Lauren Demerath, Darren Hill, Tatiana Kahvegian, Joan Merlo, Wain Parham, Milan Pribisic, Han Van Sciver
PRODUCTION
Director: Aileen Wen McGroddy
Stage Manager: Becky Warner
Scenic Designer: Tatiana Kahvegian
Costume Designer: Camilla Dely
Lighting Designer: Keith Parham
Sound Designer: Joe Court
Music Direction: Wain Parham
Dramaturg: Milan Pribisic
Props Design: Tristan Brandon
Furniture Construction: Tom Daniel
Creative Producer: Helen Lattyak
Photos by Candice Conner of Oomphotography
TUTA Theatre Chicago, 2024
“McGroddy navigates... with care, never shying away from the sisters’ flaws nor demonizing them, either.
Greta and Matilda’s sisterhood raises myriad questions about the ethics of human-AI relationships, especially as the technology continues to develop. The play is careful not to moralize though, instead, it stays grounded in the humanity of its protagonists, resulting in a tender story about two individuals whose love for each other finds a way to transcend even the most fundamental of differences.”
“The bold staging of a stimulating script proves that both breathtaking spectacle and intimate intensity can emerge from the emotional weight of two characters, talking. One of them is a computer bot; the other, her lifelong human companion. It’s an acting masterwork that unspools effortlessly and never stops surprising.”
“Director Aileen Wen McGroddy establishes such a strong relationship between them that every beat in the play is built together.”
“The text’s consideration of infinity is realized in space — the play becomes a visceral experience.
The most overwhelming moment uses story and stage effects to make us feel, in our bones, the horror of deep loneliness. Sisters is a reflection on being human, being alone and being connected, but it operates emotionally, reaching viewers through the heart as well as the mind.”
“It’s good to see TUTA return to live production for the first time since the 2020 shutdown with a revival of Crimp’s challenging but compelling piece... those who are already fans or merely curious should hurry to get tickets”
“It’s a most welcome return. I’m very glad you are back, TUTA. The scene has been the more impoverished for your long absence.”
“Plays are presented in all forms. Some have a standard story that runs from a beginning to a middle to an end, and some are improvised from performance to performance. Others are more theoretical. They ask questions and don’t provide answers. They present scenarios and show you what could be. That is the way of the new production of Attempts on Her Life at the TUTA Theatre.”
