Catch As Catch Can
Steppenwolf Theatre's Catch As Catch Can, written by Mia Chung's, is a masterful Cross-Gender Casting production featuring ensemble members Gary Cole, Audrey Francis, and Tim Hopper. To truly captivate audiences and keep them engaged for an extended period without a bathroom break, this 1-hour-and-45-minute, no-intermission play, which takes on the kitchen-sink family drama, must be exceptionally entertaining—and the cast absolutely delivered on that promise. This captivating narrative unfolds through the remarkable performances of three talented actors, each playing a parent/adult-child duo and seamlessly transitioning between six distinct roles. Set against the backdrop of two intertwined families: the Lavecchias and the Phelans, who have formed deep bonds. They are eagerly preparing a joyous homecoming celebration for Tim; however, things spiral out of control in this "All In the Family" drama as family members begin to voice their deep-seated biases about race and relationships. What starts as a festive occasion soon becomes a battleground of conflicting viewpoints, hurt feelings, and revelations of truths and unspoken tensions. This continuous piece begins as a fast-paced, witty comedy featuring two neighbors gossiping, bickering, and clashing over a son's homecoming, holiday preparations, and sibling rivalry, then drastically pivots into a sobering, dark revelation about Tim's mental state that shatters the family dynamic.
Director Amy Morton delivers a masterful performance behind the scenes, skillfully guiding this exhilarating theatrical production that feels like a high-speed train rush. She navigates the complex narrative, which can be problematic if lines are missed, ensuring it never derails into chaos. The pacing is rapid-fire, with actors shifting between characters in the blink of an eye, often within mere seconds of their last line. This demanding choreography requires not only remarkable precision but also impressive stamina, and the talented cast of Cole, Francis, and Hopper is nothing short of amazing in this production. Their talent and versatility shine through, captivating the audience with compelling performances.
In a few scenes, Chung's storyline features a form of role-doubling in which an actor rapidly shifts their pitch, tone, accent, and physical posture back and forth to carry out simultaneous conversations within the same scene or monologue. I don't have a strong affinity for this particular technique, as it often risks becoming chaotic and leading to a theatrical disaster. When not executed with precision, it can derail the performance and stretch the audience's imagination too far, making it difficult to believe there are truly two distinct individuals when their eyes can perceive only one. The same can be said for the entire play, as many within the audience will tell you they thoroughly enjoyed the performance, but leave out wondering, what just happened. Still, kudos to Cole, Francis, and Hopper, as each one brings their characters' unique scenes to life on stage, captivating the audience with their individual performances; however, the illusion demands a huge leap of faith that may be difficult for most to absorb. Still, I must agree that their performances were very impressive.
NCIS cast member Wilmer Valderrama, known as Special Agent Nick Torres, was there to support fellow NCIS Gary Cole during the press opening.
The play does have anti-Asian racial prejudice and xenophobia. Robbie was married to a Korean-American woman, and Tim's engagement to another Korean-American woman—who, notably, is never seen on stage. Chung deliberately included this normalized behavior exhibited by the family matriarchs, Roberta and Theresa, within the play to bring attention to the continually hidden systemic racial biases of American prejudice. In Catch As Catch Can, Mia Chung explores the complex and often turbulent relationships within families, capturing the delicate balance between the weight of parental expectations and the aspirations of children striving to carve out their own identities as adults. It's a captivating play, however, it’s face-pace can be somewhat feel like a seashell game, difficult to follow.
⭐⭐⭐
Steppenwolf Theater
Catch As Catch Can
Written by Mia Chung
Directed by ensemble member Amy Morton
June 4 - July 12, 2026
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