Belleville is an actual place, a neighborhood in Paris with a name that means “beautiful town.”
In a literal sense, Amy Herzog’s “Belleville” is play about an American couple living in Belleville. But by the time this engrossing, psychological drama reaches its dark climax, the title resonates in another way.
“Belleville” (now making its Chicago premiere at the Steppenwolf Theatre) comes to feel like an imaginary place—a fantasy of a happy marriage and a life in an idyllic city. This is the story of how those illusions shatter.
It’s apparent from the play’s opening moments that something isn’t right with these Americans abroad: When Abby (Kate Arrington) comes home to their apartment one afternoon, the moans of a porn video are coming from the bedroom. Abby catches Zack (Cliff Chamberlain), who was supposed to be at his job helping to discover a cure for AIDS, playing hooky—with his pants down.
Zack quickly makes small talk with his stunned wife, clumsily trying to steer the conversation away from this awkward situation. Starting right in this opening scene, Zack is dancing around the truth. Played by Chamberlain with a subtle blend of contrasting personality traits, Zack seems on first impression like an affable guy—but then you notice the fear creeping into his eyes, and you wonder just what he’s afraid of.
Abby, who is trying to wean herself off anti-depressant drugs, is supposedly the fragile half of this couple. At least, that’s how things appear on the surface as Abby and Zack interact with their increasingly frustrated Senegalese landlords, Alioune (Chris Boykin) and Amina (Alana Arenas). But Arrington, in one of her best performances yet, goes deep below the surface of her character, making Abby feel like a real person, someone who just needs a little help to get her life back on track.
Anne Kauffman, who directed the 2011 world premiere of “Belleville” at Yale Repertory Theatre, is guiding this production too. Unlike some of Steppenwolf’s recent shows, it features a simple, static set—without any moving parts to wow the audience. The action never moves outside of that apartment. All we see of Belleville is the sky through the windows. The Belleville that Abby and Zack imagined feels immeasurably distant.
“Belleville” continues through August 25 at the Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. For tickets and details, call 312-335-1650 or visit Steppenwolf’s website.
