By Tyler Tidmore www.chicagostagestyle.com

Chicago is one of the lucky cities in America to share its borders with the beautiful Lake Michigan.  The summer time brings the nice warm breezes from the lake, while the winter time brings cruel, bone-chilling winds that are capable of knocking you down.  Of course any Chicago native is familiar with that.  During the summer the Great Lakes freighters can be seen from a distance, and it's a wonder how these huge massive vessels can even stay afloat.  While working as a steward on one of these freighters back in the 1960s, David Mamet conceived the idea to write “Lakeboat”, Steep Theatre Company's latest production.

Rough and ragged men work the lower decks of this grand freighter.  Foul-mouthed workers reflect Mamet's writing style, talk of porn and alcohol fill the air as these extremely blunt blue collar workers travel the Great Lakes.  No plot is necessary for this 80 minute piece, the basic layout is grown men earning a decent hard working living.  It's everyday, “real” dialogue not used by the higher class of working America.  Mamet gives a look into the lives of lower class workers, people suffering from alcoholism, not getting enough sex, and a man's secret ambition of being a ballet dancer.  This makes for a production definitely worth seeing.

The show opens on a newly recruited night cook Dale (Nick Horst) just entering the shipyard to embark on his Great Lakes journey.  Dale is a young, seemingly innocent kid trying to earn a few dollars before heading back to school in the fall.  The rest of the crew couldn't care less about him, everyone has their own agendas and why they choose to work on this ship.  Mainly just to make a living.  Many of scenes consist of various conversations between deckhands, and a very shady fellow working the boiler room.  Sharing drinks or cigarettes brings these men together, giving each other company as they sail along the shoreline.  Revealing, without saying it of course, they depend on one another to maintain some level of sanity.

Director G.J. Cederquist does an excellent job portraying the lives of these freighter workers.  “Lakeboat” features Steep Theatre Company members Alex Gillmor, Peter Moore, and Jim Poole and past Steep collaborators Sean Bolger and Nick Horst.  Jim Poole, who plays the boiler room worker below deck, who is possibly a little crazy, does an incredible job depicting this character.

“Lakeboat” can be added to Steep's list of successful shows.  David Mamet's use of American realism is superb.  “Lakeboat” is one of those rare tales often over looked by the general public.  Fans of David Mamet's work will greatly enjoy this production, while those who have never seen a David Mamet play may not fully grasp the underlying message.  Honestly it's just a play about real people in a real environment, an excellent story and a good laugh.  For more information on this show, please visit the Theatre In Chicago Lakeboat page.