Theatre Above The Law: The Pyg Hypothesis
Sarah Wisterman, Abby Gilster, and Elliot Lockshine
Theatre Above The Law Presents THE PYG HYPOTHESIS Review - Can You Turn a Cis, Straight Man Into An Ally?
TLDR: The Pyg Hypothesis is a modern retelling of Pygmalion, My Fair Lady, etc etc. Though, instead of set in 1900s London and trying to make a proper lady, we’re in the modern day US and two researchers decide to test if they can take a cis, straight man and turn him into a proper ally to women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Abby Gilster and Sarah Wisterman
Class Is In Session at TAtL
Out at a bar, Dr. Harriet (Harry) Higgins is enjoying a drink with her partner, Professor Quinn Pickering, and long time friend, Claire. The three are chatting and catching up on Claire’s latest relationship failure when all of a sudden there’s a change in the air.
Two dudes walk in - Al looks like he just walked out of the frat house with a backwards baseball cap and a posturing swagger and the other, not quite as bro-y and a little bit shorter with glasses, Elijah. Stopping short of the cringey pick-up “Come here often?” line, Al tries to pull his best moves and lines to get Harry and Quinn interested in dates with himself and Elijah. Harry looks at Al as if he has three heads and Quinn places their hand over their drinks protectively. Even after explaining three or four times they are most definitely not interested, Al simply won’t take the hint. Harry drops her card and tells them if they want to educate themselves on gender studies to stop by her lecture.
Surprisingly, Elijah takes her up on her offer. Harry and Quinn turn to each other, the wheels in their minds turning. What if he can be taught? He’s curious enough to show up to the lecture, right? What if he can learn new behaviors and ways of thinking? And so the experiment begins. Elijah moves into their house for a month-long bootcamp of unlearning all society has taught him so far about being a man and treating others in the LGBTQ+ community.
Elliot Lockshine, Eric James Norman, Sarah Wisterman, and Abby Gilster
Just A Bunch of Queer People In Love
Looking at Dr. Harry and Professor Quinn, they seem to have it all and are a quintessential queer power couple. Both researchers with scientific minds, they’re successful in their careers, have a teenage daughter, and genuinely seem happy. Abby Glister as Dr. Harry leans back in her chair, tie undone and blazer sleeves rolled up. She plays Harry as the critical hard nosed professor, pushing Elijah to the brink. Sarah Wisterman takes on the slightly more compassionate observer role, leaning over and pulling out their notebook whenever Elijah does or says something fascinating.
Elijah played by Elliot Lockshine, starts as a stubborn, entitled, frat-boy ranting and raving about how appalling it was that the security guard questioned him about being at the lecture. But when he comes downstairs after a marathon night of reading Harry’s books on gender studies, he finally has his big “by George I think he’s got it!” moment. It seems like they two have finally broken him out of his learned, misogynistic ways. When he sits down to his final test - a date with Claire - he finally lets his genuine self through. He supports Claire’s, played by Isabella La Bove, overly sugary drink order and the two laugh and swap stories. We find ourselves a little giddy at this budding romance and hope the new Elijah sticks.
The cast also make sure to find the comedic bits. Most notably, though not a big role, Jaycey Carlson as the server at the restaurant finds their moments to pop-up from the background, coming in at the very worst moment during the date and has us laughing at their perplexed expression.
Elliot Lockshine, Abby Gilster, Sarah Wisterman, and Kara Rivera
The After Party Thoughts
The script by Greta Geiser captures the essence of Pygmalion - two professors try to teach an uneducated layman for their own gain and puts a modern twist on it. It hits all the main plot points of the original work and, even better, did so in 90 minutes. The set is very minimal - all in one room with Harry’s desk in the corner, a bookshelf, a chalkboard, and a round table with chairs that takes us everywhere from the bar, to the restaurant, to hosting the family game night.
If you’re not into plays about breaking down gender and social constructs, this would not be the best fit for you. However, if you are interested in a comedy that takes a well known work and makes it all about how people can be better allies, The Pyg Hypothesis would be a good fit for you.
RECOMMENDED
Kara Rivera, Abby Gilster, and Sarah Wisterman
When
Now through March 9, 2025
Where
Jarvis Square Theater
1439 W. Jarvis
Chicago, IL 60626
Runtime: 90minutes, no intermission
Tickets
$15+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 773-655-7197 or through the Theatre Above the Law website
Photos
Tyler Core
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre In Chicago
Abby Gilster, Sarah Wisterman, Isabella La Bove, and Elliot Lockshine
CAST
Abby Gilster (Dr. Higgins)
Sarah Wisterman (Professor Pickering)
Elliot Lockshine (Elijah)
Kara Rivera (Hunter)
Isabella La Bove (Claire)
Eric James Norman (Al)
Jaycey Carlson (Flower Seller/Server/Swing)
CREATIVE
Greta Geiser (Playwright)
Liv McDaniel (Director)
Reagan Stevenson (Stage Manager)
Lou Stockmeyer (Sound Design)
Stina Taylor (Set Design)
Britany Pearson (Lighting Design)