At any given time and for any given reason, history can be visualized as any given thing: a pageant, a staircase, a helix, a cage match, a bomb. In Erika Sheffer’s raw, strong, disturbingly funny Russian Transport, history is a disease spreading pathogens through time and across borders.
Enter a germ named Boris. He’s Diana’s younger brother, who chose not to leave Russia with the others—a handsome, affable, well-toned, English-speaking dude on the early side of middle age. Having finally made the crossing, he moves in with his Sheepshead Bay relatives for the short time it takes him to get his business affairs rolling.
Joey Wade’s set sits uncomfortably in Steppenwolf’s upstairs theater, but Ana Kuzmanic’s costumes fit Misha, Diana, Boris, Alex, and Mira extremely well, offering an invaluable map to their natures.
Through 5/11: Tue-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 3 and 7:30 PM, matinee Wed 4/23-5/7, 2 PM Steppenwolf Theatre 1650 N. Halsted 312-335-1650 steppenwolf.org $20-$78
