Presents from Nebraska…"Local Wonders"

Paul Amandes as Ted Kooser and Anne Hills asKathleen Kooser

Seeing Local Wonders is like receiving a bundle of Christmas presents. The charm, honesty and humor of the Nebraska based story wrap you in a big comfy sweater as the story of former U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser plays out in direct speech, poetry, dialogue and folksong-type lyrics and music at Chicago Dramatist Workshop, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. This Full Sky Production runs through Jan. 9, 2011.

Virginia Smith's adaptation of Kooser's book, Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps and Paul Amandes' music merge in a ninety-minute three person play. Amandes plays Kooser and Anne Hills plays his wife, Kathleen, while accompanies them with vocal, piano and sound effects. In addition to their speaking parts, Amandes sings and plays a guitar while Hills plays a guitar and banjo and sings with the clear tones reminiscent of such folk singing greats as Joan Baez, Bonnie Koloc and Judy Collins.

The base story is of highly acclaimed Kooser, basking in the glory of success, struggles with writer's block then gets slapped in the face with his own mortality when he is diagnosed with cancer.  The well written play pulls you into the Koosers' journey as they pick through their memories. "You find things and you keep them,  you find things to keep...you find yourself finding things and keeping them... you keep them," explain the lyrics.

The journey is well paced and the change of presentation types keeps the telling of each memory fresh and fascinating, like opening a new Christmas present. Two especially funny stories are about a favorite book from Kooser's childhood and determining the sex of a goose.

Amandes and Hills are so engaging in their roles that, though I knew the play had a happy ending, I was fearful that it might not work out that way. But as per an old Bohemian saying reassures one, "When God wishes to rejoice the heart of a poor man, he makes him lose his donkey and find it again." And so Kooser breaks through the block and his cancer goes into remission and Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps is sent off to the publisher.

James Robinson-Parran (c) is the musician, vocalist and sound effects person in the show

Kooser, a poet and essayist, is a professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Smith is an Associate Professor of acting and directing at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Artistic Director of Nebraska Repertory Theatre.

Local Wonders was originally produced in 2006 by the Nebraska Repertory Theatre, the professional arm of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Amandes, a former Bucktown resident, is the Associate Chair of the Theatre Department at Columbia College Chicago and a free-lance writer, director and performer in theater and music.

Performances are: Thurs. at 7:30 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m.; and Sun. at 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.  Individual ticket prices are $30 for Fri. & Sat. performances and $25 for Thurs.& Sun.  Discounts for senior, student and groups of 8 or more are also available. For tickets order online or call 630.457.1074 or email.  For more information visit website.