Collaboration's "Be A Good Little Widow" runs through Oct. 23

Melody and Hope after plane crash

Be a Good Little Widow runs until Oct. 23 in Collaboraction's performing space in the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave. Written by Bekah Brunstetter, it is directed by Anthony Moseley, Collaboraction's Executive Artistic Director.

The story is about, ditzy, twenty something Melody (Meghan Reardon), from Colorado, who is newly married to slightly older Craig (Tommy Hicks). Craig spends most of his time on the road for business. They had a house in Craig's small Connecticut hometown where his condescending judgmental mother, Hope (Susan Fay), resides.

Primarily Melody is home all day, has no idea what she wants to do with her education. She has only had a couple of years to think about it. Her choice is to do nothing except to fluctuate between being bored and uncertain. She starts developing a brief friendship with a colleague of Craig named Brad (Christian Kain Blackburn).

Tragedy strikes. Craig's plane crashes and Melody and Hope, as well as Brad, are thrown together as they both with a new reality.

Check out these reviews: Chicago Theater Beat; Chicago Now;  Time Out; Chicago Tribune; The Reader; and Chicago Sun-Times.

Performances are Thurs. thru Sat., 8 p.m. and Sun 3 p.m. Oct. 15 will be at 5 p.m., followed by Collaboraction's annual Beggars Banquet.

Cast party at Rodan, 1530 N. Milwaukee after official opening night

The configuration of the Collaboraction space for this presentation proved that it is versatile for many different types of events.

Pictured l to r: Mac Vaughey, lighting designer; Anthony Moseley, Tommy Hicks, Christian Kain Blackburn, and Meghan Reardon