Friends with Guns, written by Stephanie Allison Walker and directed by Nathan Dale Short, is a provocative play that explores both sides of one of the most controversial debates happening in our country today: guns. The play, now being staged by A Short :Leap Theatre, follows two liberal couples who become fast friends, connecting over being young parents living in California, but after what seems like a perfect night together, discover they are on opposing sides of the wildly complex gun problem in this country.
The clash of viewpoints begins between the men of this story. Danny and Josh, played by Fabian Guerrero and Josh Leeper, are two headstrong men who refuse to be swayed on their stance when it comes to the Second Amendment. They are unwilling to listen to one another and in turn, pass harsh judgments on each other. It calls attention to how divided our country is at the moment, and that even those who agree on nearly everything else will still focus on the one thing they disagree about. Guerrero and Leeper both convincingly portray their character’s unwavering beliefs, but lack some depth into who these characters are beyond their strong perspective on this hot button issue.
The women on the other hand represent a different side of the coin. Shannon and Leah, played by Amanda Hays and Carina Lastimosa, start this conversation from a place of curiosity rather than judgment. We see this happen between these two characters from the very first scene. Leah observes Shannon at the park with her kids in a moment of weakness. Shannon is tired and exhausted and blows her top at her children, but instead of judging her as a mother, Leah offers her support and validation, marking the start of a beautiful female friendship. They find commonality in being mothers of small children, feeling unsafe in the world as women, and needing something more to make their lives feel like their own. As the show progresses, they find safety and camaraderie within one another. Actors Hays and Lastimosa have lovely chemistry and watching these two grow as confidants is beautiful and endearing to the audience.
Friends with Guns is a conversation starter. You will leave this thought provoking show ready to share your own opinion on this matter. Friends with Guns by A Short Leap Theatre runs through December 7 at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes including an intermission. Performances will be Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 7:30pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Industry performances are scheduled Monday, November 17 and December 1, at 7:30pm. There will be no shows November 24-30.
Tickets and more information available here. The show contains mature content; intended for audiences 16+.
Follow A Short Leap on instagram @ashortleap to stay in the loop on upcoming events and shows.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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