Ripper!

In the autumn of 1888, a series of murders shook London’s Whitechapel district. The victims were all women, all murdered in similar ways, leading police to suspect they were all perpetrated by one person — now known to the world as Jack The Ripper. Possibly the most infamous serial killer of modern times, dozens of dramatic fictionalized presentations about the murders have appeared over the course of the century. Locally, a recent staging of the story featured Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper starring playwright Dale Gutzman as the detective. This month, the legendary serial killer finds a local stage again as Jackie Benka’s Ripper! debuts at the Alchemist Theater.

While it is thoroughly entertaining, Benka’s script is not terribly intricate. The ending and a few plot details may, no doubt, seem novel to people with a passing interest in the killings, but those who are familiar with Ripper lore should not expect anything new. Indeed, some anachronisms in the script would irritate fans and scholars. But the production is fantastic for anyone looking for an affordable, entertaining evening of pop theatre in an intimate venue.

Enter the bar/lobby area at the Alchemist to find it decked out in the nineteenth-century manner, with the actresses destined to be the Ripper’s victims offering escort into the theatre next door through the stylishly eerie alleyway behind the building. Alchemist has put a great deal of work into locking in the atmosphere of the play, and it really pays off.

Inside the theatre, every open area not taken up by seating is made to look like a Whitechapel alley. Costuming may not be precise, but there is more than enough here to deliver an immersive mood. Seamless pacing starts the play as Alice Wilson escorts Aaron Kopec to center stage. Wilson plays streetwalker to Kopec’s London doctor — a gentleman named Sydney Pearcey. And so begins the story.

Kopec’s Pearcey is a tragic figure that the audience is neither allowed to entirely empathize with or entirely hate; Kopec expertly plays the part somewhere between hero and villain. Briana Ziebell cuts an admirably strong figure as his wife, who suspects his infidelities. On the whole, the women in this play have exceptional emotional strength, which is a refreshing change of pace from many Ripper stories. The most notable female portrayal amongst the prostitutes is Liz Shipe in the role of Mary Kelly. Currently studying theatre at UWM, Schipe shows considerable promise. Also making a notable appearance is Mark Lonteen in the role of police Detective Abberline, a character written somewhere between actual policeman and dramatic hero. His performance is the heart of this production — moody and entertaining without being particularly dark or heavy-handed. VS

Alchemist Theater’s production of Ripper! runs now through September 27. 414-426-4169 or visit Alchemist online for more info.