Review written by Emily Werner.
First Floor Theater’s new production of reid tang’s dark comedy Work Hard Have Fun Make History struggles to create a clear connection between the characters and audience or establish a concrete storyline.
Director Tina El Gamal does their best to bring tang’s unconventional script to the stage, though the production’s abstract nature limits its overall impact. Moments of absurdist comedy occasionally land well and will likely appeal to some audience members, while leaving others disengaged.
Themes of consumerism and modern capitalism run throughout the play. The first 20 minutes unfold without live dialogue, as actors Sahar Dika, Jenn Geiger, and Alice Wu perform a choreographed series of scenes depicting packaging workers and other characters navigating the pressures of everyday life. Recorded dialogue accompanies these sequences, though it does not always align with the action onstage, which can make the storytelling feel disjointed. Once the actors begin speaking live, they shift rapidly between multiple roles, making it difficult for the audience to form a connection with any single character. Aside from recognizable parodies of capitalist figures like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, many of the characters feel too obscure or underdeveloped to leave a lasting impression, despite the performers’ committed work.
The production’s strongest element is Spencer Donovan’s set design. Constructed from and surrounded by cardboard packaging boxes, the set features hidden compartments and passageways that allow the actors to seamlessly retrieve props, designed by Lolo Ramos, and move through concealed entrances and exits. The design effectively reinforces the play’s themes while adding visual interest throughout the performance. Recognition should also be given to Jae Robinson (sound designer), Nathan Rohrer (costume design), Conchita Avitia (lighting design) and Jack Berland (box facade artist).
By the end of the night, Work Hard Have Fun Make History feels more like an experiment than a fully realized production. While its ambitious ideas and unconventional structure may resonate with audiences drawn to absurdist theater, the lack of narrative clarity and emotional connection makes it difficult to stay fully invested. Despite committed performances and an inventive set design, the production ultimately leaves more confusion than impact.
Work Hard was first performed at the Clubbed Thumb Summerworks Festival in 2023. The play is described as “a catalog of all the possible phone calls that exist. A play that is not about Amazon, not about Jeff Bezos and certainly not about Elon Musk.” Playwright tang says they write “plays and things shaped like plays.” Their other works include Future Wife, Party in a Google Sheet, and Isabel. They are a resident playwright at New Dramatists.
First Floor Theater’s Work Hard Have Fun Make History continues until June 6 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N Clark St. Run time is 90 minutes with no intermission. Visit the website for tickets (starting at $10) and more information.
Emily Werner is a theater critic and administrator located in Chicago. She works at Lyric Opera and is a board member of Porchlight Young Professionals at Porchlight Music Theatre. You can find her articles on her website, Werner's Theatre Reviews or follow her on Instagram at @wernerstheatrereviews.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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