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• Chekhov send-off or Rip-off, latest Goodman play is perplexing

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Pictured in Goodman Theatre's world-premiere production of Magnolia by Regina Taylor, directed by Anna D. Shapiro are (l to r) Tory O. David (Meshach) and Cliff Chamberlain (Paul). Magnolia begins performances on March 14 (Opening Night is March 23) and runs through April 19 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. For ticket information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org or call 312.443.3800. Photo by Liz Lauren.

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Regina Taylor’s Magnolia, not to be confused with Steel Magnolias, the hit play from the late 1980s, is a drama steeped in the history of the South and the civil rights movement. It is making its world premiere at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre for the next month. While impressive in its ambitious scope and compelling in its individual stories it tells, this adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard into Atlanta in 1963 presents intriguing possibilities that aren’t fully realized.

The play’s rather talky first act is set in two local restaurants: one, called Black Pearl’s, is an African-American run establishment that features many home cooked regional specialties and traditional eggs and coffee; the other is Kerry’s, a white owned business where more of the established citizens favor. We quickly learn of many of the townfolks’ personal stories, family histories and recent ambitions. While there isn’t much dramatic action the play’s main focus is the turbulent times of the civil rights movement, and the local conflict over the foreclosure of the Magnolia Estate, now controlled by the heiress Lily, and Thomas, an African American businessman, who wishes to purchase the estate, from which he was born and his relatives worked as slaves on.

Much of the second act mirrors Chekhov’s play almost scene by scene, with the passing of the Old Southern landed gentry and the newly empowered, formerly oppressed class, replacing the Russian aristocracy and the surging proletariat might. Director Anna D. Shapiro, 2008’s Tony Award winning best director for August: Osage County, stages a handsome looking production and her cast is uniformly impressive. John Earl Jelks, recent Tony nominee for Radio Golf, is a powerful, proud and determined Thomas and surprising good is Annette O’Toole, film star of the ‘70s and ‘80s (48 Hours, Cat People); her Lily is a strong willed, somewhat bitter and free spirited woman who can’t quite roll with the social changes of the times. Featured players, Roxanne Reese, and Tyla Abercrumbie are also effective as Ms. Carlotta and Maya, respectively.

Yet, somehow the channeled Chekhov doesn’t quite get fully translated; you almost wished Taylor would have just told her tale and gave up on the parallel characters and functions of the great Russian writer’s plot.

Magnolia continues until April 19, 2009 at the Goodman Theatre, which is located at 170 N. Dearborn in Chicago. For ticket information, contact the box office at 213 443-3800 or go online at www.GoodmanTheatre.org.