You’re liable to enjoy Christopher at first. The 60-year-old patriarch of an urban British family that includes three grown children and Beth, the solicitous mum, he’s an academic of some kind who likes to think of himself as an honest bastard. A let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may sort. Archie Bunker with an advanced degree. Even at the dinner table, in the bosom of his nuclear unit, he’s arrogantly literary, aggressively argumentative, proudly bigoted, and supremely potty-mouthed.
And like every bully, he always hurts the ones he loves. Eldest son Daniel has been trying his damnedest to gain access to Dad’s favor by imitating him. It’s no use. The dissertation he’s writing is gibberish, says Christopher, and though Daniel can launch a solidly obscene insult (Ruth, on the cunt boyfriend: “He seemed interested in what I had to say.” Daniel: “Well, you know what they say. ‘There’s no such thing as a boring pussy’”), he lacks the stomach for sustained cruelty. The voices in his head tell him he’s no good.
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Then he meets Sylvia, the hearing daughter of deaf parents—which is to say, Billy’s inverse image. She introduces him to love, signing, and other deaf people. Even finds him a job using his skill as a lip-reader. Once Billy understands what he’s been missing, all hell naturally breaks loose in Christopher’s kingdom.
Through 2/9: Tue-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 3 and 7:30 PM, check with theater for exceptions Steppenwolf Theatre 1650 N. Halsted 312-335-1650
steppenwolf.org $20-$82
