This play is an engrossing account of one woman’s struggle to make sense of her world after her police detective husband’s untimely death.
Barbara Robertson is masterful as Alice Conroy, a wife, mother and mystery buff who yearns to solve the mystery behind her husband’s death.
As the sole performer, Robertson engages the audience, as she lays out the evidence piece by piece, which includes clues that this grief stricken widow’s life may be careening out of control—or is it? Robertson’s performance, along with playwright Keith Huff’s prose, bring supporting characters to life through Conroy’s detailed recollections and reflections.
The set, designed by Kevin Depinet with projections by Mike Tutaj is intimate if not ironic as the audience is privy to classified information that includes case files, text messages and crime scene photographs. In contrast, Conroy is surrounded by stacks upon stacks of her beloved mysteries, which is fitting given that the set is housed in a theater that is housed in a bookstore. “The Detective’s Wife” is the second of a loose trilogy of plays about Chicago cops and follows on the heels of “A Steady Rain,” which received high praise for its Broadway debut featuring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman. Here’s hoping “The Detective’s Wife” finds similar success.
“The Detective’s Wife” runs through July 31 at Writer’s Theatre, located at 664 Vernon Ave. in Glencoe. Click here for information about tickets and show times or call the box office at 847-242-6000.
