NORTH CENTER — Guy walks into a bar ....
What happens next is the theme of a series of eight short plays produced by LiveWire Chicago Theatre, which provided photos of North Center drinking establishments to a group of of writers and said "go forth and be inspired."
The result is "VisionFest: Pub Plays," debuting at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Black Rock Pub & Kitchen, 3614 N. Damen Ave. Repeat performances of the 75-minute show are scheduled for Sunday, as well as Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, same time, same place. Tickets are $10 at the door, 21+ only.
Armed with the pictures LiveWire's writers had to work with, plus the titles of their subsequent plays, DNAinfo.com took a stab at guessing the plots. How'd we do? The real storyline is revealed after each photo.
1. Inspired by Windy City Inn: "Did Something Happen?," written by Calamity West.
Our best guess: Sue and Larry black out for 48 hours following a Malort-fueled binge, wake up in New Zealand and discover they've been cast as trolls at a Hobbit theme park.
[Photographs by LiveWire collective members Judy Radovsky and John Taflan.]
What it's really about: Two sisters hash out the past and the future over drinks.
2. Inspired by O'Donovan's: "The Magicians Used To Go Here," written by Emily Dendinger.
Our best guess: After decades of holding their weekly "jam sessions" at O'Donovan's, the members of the Illusionist Club decide to take their tricks elsewhere when the bar stops serving Old Style.
What it's really about: The sister of the bride and her boyfriend leave the wedding reception for a bar that serves Fireball shots. It's the necessary drink for talking about the future.
3. Inspired by Martyrs': "Crux," written by Ike Holter.
Our best guess: Sam is allergic to light, Grace is allergic to dark. There's only one place where they can truly be together.
What it's really about: After-work drinks with a co-worker gets real dangerous, real fast.
4. Inspired by Half Acre: "Beverly Enters, Stage Left," written by Bekah Brunstetter.
Our best guess: The line for the women's room is too long ... again ... and Beverly's bladder is about to burst. She barges into the men's room and discovers she's been lied to her whole life. Guys do know how to put the toilet seat down.
What it's really about: A young actress and an older patron ask us to take a look at self worth and kindness in a world full of increasingly sparse connection.
5. Inspired by Bottles & Cans: "Four Minutes," written by Lauren Yee.
Our best guess: Confronted by a selection of 300 different IPAs, Dylan is paralyzed with indecision. In the time it takes him to make up his mind, 84 new craft breweries have opened and added their beers to his dilemma. This absurdist tale, in the tradition of "Waiting for Godot," will leave you scratching your head. And thirsty.
What it's really about: A tipsy Mom and Marvin Gaye give us a lesson on sex and adolescent heartbreak.
6. Inspired by the Bad Apple: "Basic Bitch," written by Joel Kim Booster.
Our best guess: In a dystopian future, condiments are scarce and the supply is controlled by a West Side cartel known as The Hostesses. You want ketchup with your fries? It could cost you your life.
What it's really about: Pits a mythical agent of destruction against fellow waiter Moses, the biggest T Swift hater in the world.
7. Inspired by the Bad Apple: "The Truth Is I Lied Kinda. Or, Slowburn," written by Eric Holmes.
Our best guess: Jeffrey told Alicia not to worry, he'd make the reservations for their anniversary dinner. Oops. Their marriage disintegrates over the course of a two-hour wait.
What it's really about: A fledgling couple comes clean in the wake of illness and burgers.
8. Inspired by Bad Apple: "Beer and Necessary Conversations," written by Sam Bailey.
Our best guess: Before she takes Kyle home to meet her family, Vanessa brings him to Bad Apple for one final test ... and he fails. Miserably. "Sorry Kyle, but I can't be with a guy who picks Cranium over Twister."
What it's really about: Features a young woman wrestling with relationships, race and the game of love.
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