(In front of the theatre after the play)
The
first time I read The Book Thief in 2007 I fell instantly for the book.
I’ve reread it since then and each time my love for it has grown. So
when I heard that it was chosen as this year’s One Book One Town for
Chicago and it would be made into a play as part of the programming, I
was thrilled!
I
immediately planned a weekend trip to the windy city to see the show
with friends. I was a bit nervous about how it would translate to the
stage. How would the narrator, Death, be portrayed? What about Liesel
and Rudy, child actors can be off-putting, would they be over the top?
Turns
out I had nothing to worry about. It was so beautifully done I could
hardly believe it. The book was adapted by Heidi Stillman and each
choice was carefully made. Death is played by a friendly middle-aged
man. He comes across as curious and kind and is instantly relatable. I
can’t imagine how off-putting it would have been to have a lurking Grim
Reaper figure trying to tell the story.
Rudy
was by far one of the best parts of the show. He is so sweet and
sincere, Death puts it beautifully when he says, "He just steps on your
heart!" Papa and Mama were just right as well. Papa was kind, caring for
Liesel and Max in his quiet way. Mama was brash at first, but the
audience quickly realized how deeply she loved her family.
Liesel
came across as hard and vulnerable all at the same time, just as she
did in the book. She deals with so much heartbreak at such a young age,
but she’s still just a girl. Her sobs as she cradles her brother’s body
in the opening scene was enough to break you heart.
(The Stage)
The
stage was bleak and simple. The edges of the stages’ frame have the
look of torn pages. There were also three large strips in the background
that were used to show depth. At times one would be lit up with a color
that Death saw. Other times there were real videos from World War II,
bomber planes or marching soldiers, projected on one of the strips.
Another
great addition was a trio of live musicians performing throughout the
show. They were costumed to look like the German civilians in the show.
One of them played his accordion every time Papa played for Liesel on
the stage. It was truly beautiful.
We
stayed for a discussion after the show and it was such a joy to hear
the reactions of different audience members. Young students were talking
about standing up for what’s right even when it’s hard. Adults were
talking about the grief of loosing those you love. The story deals with
so many issues that it crosses the divides between gender and age with
ease. It is a universal tale, one that means something different to each
person who reads or sees it.
I
can’t say enough about this excellent performance. I hope that it is
successful and is produced in other cities. If not, I hope that people
will read the book no matter where they live and allow their own
imaginations to create the scene in their heads.
Suey at
It's All About Books is hosting a week-long celebration of Markus Zusak's books. Make sure you check it out
here!
There are beautiful quotes from authors decorating the walls. There are musical sections. When I was there, the entire Kerouac scroll was on display. I easily could have spent half a day there exploring the whole place. Unfortunately, I was attending a conference and so I only had a few hours, but I'm so glad I took the time to visit on that quiet Thursday afternoon. 
One of the main area is a giant timeline of American authors. It's broken up by different periods and includes details about what was happening during that time (like the Civil War or a medical advancement). Make sure you turn the text block beneath the author photo for more info. I didn't realize they turned until I was halfway down the hall. 
