Achilles at the Skylight

Playwright Chris Collins's "Achilles in Arcadia" is a World Premiere.  It is always a tempting to see a brand new play. Director Kiff Scholl's production takes us to Arcadia, California and into the  world of student   film making..  Sort of. 

The film's director, George (Krit McClean) is a disabled vet from his time in a foreign war. His pal,  Pat (Timothy Willard) is sweet on George's sister Rose (Yulia Belyaeva). They all assemble to rehearse Geoge's film.  Lilly (Devyn Kohl ), George's partner completes his cast.

Side tracked by Aunt Amy (Gloria Tsai).. things start to go sideways and then.. more sideways. A gun?

A "prop" gun provides some tension.  The motive for it is obscure. 

Gloria Tsai and Jeff LeBeau

As we move further and further from the goal of rehearsing for George's student film, Scholl and Collins guide us through a miasma of circumstances that expose  a darkness that portends an odd climax. The title, "Achilles in Arcadia" foreshadows the hurdles that George faces as a wounded veteran with family issues that impinge on his goals to succeed in the arts.

Joyce Hutter's beautiful set:  a Chinese restaurant that may be part of George's family business is lavish.

Scholl's direction has his characters on high octane and acting styles are varied with the swing of the story .. sideways again.. as George and Rose's father, Chuck (Jeff LeBeau) returns with a limp similar to the injury that George has received in battle. The metaphor of "Achilles", the mighty warrior who met his fate becaused of a flaw may be at work.  

Collins' story builds to a confusing  climax. The denument of Rose's interpretive dance is enigmatic and moving.

When anyone opts to take a new project and invest time and cash for art, this deserves applause.  My confusion with the motivations of the characters may be in the text and I just missed it.  This leaves questions, but the cast's dedication is on the stage and deserves to be acknowledged.

 

Black Bough Productions 

presents

ACHILLES IN ARCADIA

by Chris Collins

A World Premiere

Directed by Kiff Scholl

Scenic Designer -Joyce Hutter 

Lighting Designer -Matt Richter 

Sound Designer -Jerry Buszek 

Costume Designer -Freddie Patrick 

Casting Director -Lucky Weaver 

Marketing Director -Sé Marie Volk 

Press Agent -Philip Sokoloff

Stage Manager -Conner Moody 

General Manager -Frier McCollister 

Photos by Christopher Mortenson

Cast

George - Krit McClean

Lilly - Devyn Kohl

Pat - Timothy Willard

Rose - Yulia Belyaeva

Aunt Amy - Gloria Tsai

Chuck - Jeff LeBeau 

August 9 - September 21, 2025

Run time: 1 hr. 25 min.

No intermission.

There is no late seating.

LOCATION:
Skylight Theatre
1816 1/2 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

ADULT TICKET PRICE:
$25 Saturdays & Sundays
$20 Fridays

SENIOR/STUDENT TICKET PRICE:
$15 (at door sale only)

WTF??? MFer With the Hat at The Odyssey

This is not a theatre review.

That said..  and after many edits.. The MFer with the Hat should be seen!

There's a show just gone up at The Odyssey Theatre: "The Motherxxcker With the Hat" by Stephen Adly Guirgis. 

It  features five distinct characters. They embody, each in their own way, the essence of addiction, jealousy, loyalty, betrayal and love.

The disease of Loving factors here heavily. It's palpable in each of the five characters. They are raw and mostly fully exposed, damaged and livng in a gritty microcosm of anger, deception and love. And, Sex.

I feel compelled to give attention to this show because I am imagining the very real challenges that Jackie, Ralph D., Veronica, Victoria and Cousin Julio deal with daily. Their story is a heavy polemic that has at its base the AA program:  sobriety with attention to the truth. The fragility of the love between Veronica and Jackie looms in the dialogue and in the cringing subtext that makes these characters all the more human. Flawed.

Set in Times Square and elsewhere in New York City,,  we first meet Jackie and Veronica. He's in AA. She's not. Love? The Hat? Ralph D. and Victoria: love hate? Cousin Julio is here to help.. sort of.

When men and women are day by day in survival mode, the question becomes, of course.  "How does one survive?"  

Clinging to life  by our toe nails, we search for a safe place?  Who's to be trusted?? The rush of endorphins with sex, drugs and ethics at stake, each play a part in how every one of us gets by from day to day. 

For those who have sought help through AA, this MFer may trigger deep feelings.  The addiction to love and the addiction to substance and the factors that are inevitable with paranoia (whose MFing hat is it??)  lead each of these well conceived characters through  the inescapable challenges that are exacerbated by circumstance.  

How do any of us survive?  Can any situation be redeemed if trust and loyalty are misplaced?  

When to stay?   When to go?

The language in Guirgis's play is straight out of the culture of our current times. The triggers in the dialogue take me out of the seeing the production by the over use of the word that defines the play.  But!

But.. 

The Odyssey is a special venue.  It takes chances and my goal is to be supportive.  

I recommend this production for those who understand the 'language of our times' and can weather an onslaught of common terms. The stuff of this human drama is composed to create a specific situation.. a story for artists to interpret.  It presents a strong reflection of survival. 

  This play does what I think theatre is supposed to do. It evokes  in us feelings of empathy and sympathy and even regrets?  Do we see ourselves?  

MFer is an important  "Act of Theatre."

Opened 8pm on Saturday, August 9 

8pm Thursdays – Saturdays; 2pm Sundays 

Trough August 31, 2025

The Odyssey Theatre

2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90025