THEATRE OF NOTE / CLOWNFISH

 After a too long "intermission", Theatre of NOTE literally charges into the fray with the World Premiere of Amy Dellagiarino's contemporary comedy, CLOWNFISH. 

If energy and speed are reasons for a good notice, this show is filled with both. Cassie, as she munches sunflower seeds, (doing a pretty good Wanda Sykes impression) cracks wise to the delight of the Opening Night Audience.  Erica creates a chandelier. 

The playwright has imagined that Denver is in the mountains and that a blizzard is raging,  making the trip up an icy mountain road to an El Cheapo motor court treacherous. The fact that Denver is not in the mountains doesn't stop this energetic cast from surging ahead. It's a shame that the playwright or the director had not seen the W.C. Fields classic "The Fatal Glass Of Beer."  A running part of "Clownfish" features folks coming and going from the outside where a blizzard is supposed to be raging. W.C. Field's bit in his short film could have informed the business of the blizzard beautifully. 

Jake and Katie (Groom and Bride respectfully) have ordered up a DIY wedding with a balloon arch and marble machine. They have called to service old college pals for some wedding fun. The fact is that not everyone is down with the idea of a 'dry wedding' (Somebody's uncle is an alcoholic) and when Katie, "I'm The Bride!!!", arrives with her first empty champagne bottle in hand: two sheets to the wind, it makes for some interesting repartee.  There is a lot of shouting.  Very fast shouting. The fact that Denver is not on a mountain, adds to the mystery of what is really happening here.

Sean Michael Boozer, Susan Louise O’Connor, Mara Shuster-Lefkowitz and Omari Williams star in Theatre of NOTE’s world premiere production of “CLOWNFISH,” written by Amy Dellagiarino and directed by Laura Stribling and now playing at Theatre of NOTE in Hollywood. PHOTO CREDIT:  Brad C. Light

Do you believe in ghosts?  It's one of the reasons that this party is so inexpensive.  Local lore regarding how to keep the ghost from actually haunting the party has us counting the guests.   Six is the 'magic' number.  Blithe Spirit is not on hand, but you never can tell when a spook might appear and knock the titular Clownfish (dubbed Trouty though he's huge and may possibly be a bass!) right off the wall.

Erica  has checked herself out of the looney bin to attend and having been tasked to decorate a 'chandelier' is doing just fine, thank you.  She may be the most sane member of the wedding. Cassie did not get the obligatory task packet / memo and has plenty of time for wisecracks though she was tasked to create the name place cards which are now up in the air because Tod (ney Todd) announces that he has changed hs name by eliminating from it one superfluous 'd'.

 The dialogue is fast and furious with a poignant scene between Ralph and Erica that is a lttle hard to figure out, but they obviously make a nice connection.

Director Laura Stribling's staging has some issues that I've seen in other small theatres.  I'm guessing that she failed to take into account that there would be people sitting in the audience. Thus when some very downstage business takes place on the floor, everyone but folks in the front row leaned forward to see what the heck was going on.   On the up side, each of these situation comedy characters is well defined and in the fast paced action finds a niche to fill and fills it.  

Bill Voorhees's scenic design works. The only tech idea missing is the maelstrom that could make the entries from outside funny.. well funnier. 

 

I love the poster for this show by Tom Misuraca that depicts the Clownfish full frontal with a tiny cabin tempest tossed on a flailing ocean.  How this factors into the argument of the play is a mystery, but it's a very cool graphic. .

 The Cast
Tod...............................................Sean Michael Boozer+
Hunter...........................................................Joe Mahon+
Erica........................................Susan Louise O'Connor*+
Katie........................................Mara Shuster-Lefkowitz+
Ralph.........................................................Bill Voorhees
Cassie.......................................................Jamila Webb*+
Jake.......................................................Omari Williams

Scenic and Properties Design Bill Voorhees
Sound Design Alex Diaz
Costume Design Linda Muggeridge
Graphic Design Tom Misuraca
Publicity David Elzer/Demand PR

CLOWNFISH

By Amy Dellagiarino

Directed by Laura Stribling

Thursday, July 7  through Saturday, August 6, 2022

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays @ 8pm

Sundays @ 7pm

No performance on Saturday, July 30

Added performance Monday July 18 @ 8pm

Admission: $25.00

Students/seniors: $20.00

Theatre of NOTE

 1517 N Cahuenga Blvd 

(just north of Sunset)

Hollywood, CA  90028

Reservations/Information:              

Online: www.theatreofnote.com

Parking on Sunset after 7PM is available. Meters until 8PM