LAKEVIEW — First off: No, there aren't real dead bodies at "The Autopsy Talks."
But there is a real doctor, chock-full of compassion and knowledge to help grieving families get closure.
With "The Autopsy Talks," playing the next three Wednesdays at Theater Wit, Ben Margolis wants to widen that circle of comfort even further.
"It's a pretty unique world that very few people have a view into — the hours and days right after a loss," Margolis said. "What they go through is pretty beautiful, the way they talk about their relationships and experiences."
Autopsy Center of Chicago Presents: AutopsyChicago.com/events from Two Gents Digital on Vimeo.
Margolis has been at the Autopsy Center since 2010. In that time, he said he's found that his services can provide a bridge for families, "filling in" details they might not have had available to them through a medical provider.
Margolis starts the two-hour talk getting to know the audience and why they're attending. He walks them through the bereavement process and the logistics of private autopsies. They discuss what he tells a family member about their lost loved one and why.
Sometimes, audience members share their own stories.
Margolis uses a slideshow to demonstrate the autopsy procedure, but faces are blurred out.
"It's not a gross-out show. I'm very sensitive about it, and you're not going to see things that make you cringe," Margolis said.
"The Autopsy Talks" plays at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 9 and 16. Tickets are $45, and the show is open to ages 18 and up.
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