REEL TO REEL at the Matrix

 The Los Angeles Premiere of

"REEL TO REEL" by John Kolvenbach opened July 18th at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles. 

Wow!

Extraordinary direction by Matthew McCray, brings this unique take on life and love over a fifty year span of time  at once a challenge to the audience and a tour de force by all creatives involved.   Samantha Klein, Brett Aune, Alley Mills Bean, and Jim Ortlieb as two Maggies and two Walters also play  supporting voices in the mix.   It's the story of an Undeniable Force of Nature (Maggie) versus  good old Walter, who survives and in his own way thrives as we flip and flop through time and space featuring an amazing set by Evan Bartoletti.  

The presentation is expansive. The four actors bring other characters to life from time to time.   

"Betty," Walter's go to gal pal, is played broadly by Samantha Klein.

I want to rave about this show because it never stops moving forward and back and in and out. The undeniable energy of Maggie as the irrepressible  young sound collage artist who knows herself, knows her world and knows her man in a flash takes us on a journey of over fifty years with the elder couple living in the year 2050.

Alley Mills Bean, Jim Ortlieb 

 Photo by Jeff Lorch

 Walter may be a film maker?  Being swept away.. and boy do I know that feeling! Being swept away by a beautiful and dedicated force of nature buoys Walter up to become himself, in spite of himself.  I personalize this because it happened to me.

McCray's fluid direction with the elder actors and the youngsters moving in and out of time and space with the set almost another character is impressive.  Sound effects provided by the actors themselves from the sound of a human femer being crushed by a sledge hammer to the voices of Maggie's parents in the privacy of their bedroom.. all flow to share the journey of lovers in love: Maggie with her art and love of Walter and Walter surviving and growing in spite of himself. 

Recommending this show is easy and a pleasure. Parking is hard. but the show is a masterwork of technical coordination, physical movement and  each of the actors bringing vital energy turning on the year and the age of Maggie and Walter at any given time.

The money is on the stage with the set and over the top lighting effects. It's professional theatre at The Matrix in concert with Denver based HorsChart Company in residence with Rogue Machine Theatre. 

The  presentational approach to story telling is refreshing with impressive sound effects. 

Take a friend. Be enchanted. Bring a hankie. See this show.

PRODUCTION TEAM: 

Jeff Gardner (Sound and Foley Design), Evan Bartoletti (Scenic Design), Azra King-Abadi (Lighting Design), Vicki Conrad (Costume Design), Nicole Bernardini (Prop Design/Foley Design), Grant Gerrard (Technical Director), Brett Aune (Producer), Michelle Hanzelova-Bierbauer (Producer), Ivan Rivas (Associate Producer). 

Reel to Reel opens at 8pm on Friday, July 18 and runs 8pm Fridays, Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through, August 23, 2025. 

Rogue Machine, at the Matrix Theatre, is located at 7657 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046.  

Tickets are $45 

General Admission. 

Seniors: $35. Shows4Less on Fridays July 25 ($15+), August 1 ($15+), August 15 ($25). Reservations: 

https://www.roguemachinetheatre.org or for more information 855-585-5185. 

Run time is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

Social Media: Instagram: @RogueMachineTheatre

Facebook: @RogueMachineTheatre