ARROWHEAD.. inspired by playwright Catya McMullen's stay at a lovely San Bernardino  mountains cabin, explores the stuff of our sense of self and sexuality.  

Clockwise from Top L: Nate Smith,
Amielynn Abellera, Kathleen Littlefield,
Lindsay Coryne, and Kacie Rogers
Photo by Jeff Lorch.jpg

Caveat.. 

Google has flagged this review for language. I'm editing for content so that you can imagine the naughty words that I had spelled out.
 

 

Imagine, if you will.. An  abortion party for a self declared lesbian  who, drunk, evidently,  succumbed to the muscular advance of a man.  "He was rough and pulled my hair.. but it didn't hurt..I liked it".. and the story unfolds with not all of the characters saying the names of the other characters, but there's an attractive black woman and the attractive Asian and the pregnant breast pumping woman also attractive and the cheated upon lover really cute and the manly boys who may or may not be gay or bi or ?? because the story  steps off the cliff at an eight and quickly escalates to a ten, I imagine thanks to Jenna Worsham's decision as director to  . more or less.. present "Friends" with benefits and choices and applied sexuality  on Speed..or caffine. or both. Fast and faster!  Faster, bigger, funnier?

The breakneck pace and rapid delivery evoked laughter from the  opening night audience  for this World Premiere and because of the rapid fire dialogue..was anyone listening? were they? or just getting the juice flowing and some hot sex batting a thousand and inquiry and betrayal and hot stuff baby baby baby and the cat palace and what a retreat to Lake Arrowhead .. away from the bright lights.. might bring.

The characters are well defined (the guys are sort of not)  and the actors who portray them are all about the same twenty something age?  thirty?  and the set is gorgeous and the wham bam lights and sound literally rock the theater. The money is on the stage! Big time..  and I am sure that an age appropriate fwording audience whose vocabulary is also loaded with the now ubiquitous use of fword and  "poop"  without dropping a stitch is totally acceptable and representative of the way so many  folks communicate these days.. 

but.

The rapid pace and the John Mashita dialogue/speeches.. with few exceptions.. cranks up to eleven ala Spinal Tap.. and  pretty much left me exhausted.

Not having access to the QR program to line up the characters with their actor selves, it is a compliment ..as best I can manage.. that each is true to whomever author, Catya McMullen has created for them.. the Cat Lady appears in an off stage / on stage bit with her giant kitty palace and is adorable in a ditzy naive way .. The dialogue is punctuated with laughs that the audience enjoyed while I was still beats behind. That's on me.

So...  for the  generation that lives with their noses pretty much buried in one iPhone  or another, while  multitasking and stands to applaud while getting back on line or texting or such.. this is the play for them.  

Having vacationed at Lake Arrowhead, with an actual family, I can attest that the isolation truly does have an effect of bringing people together.. This cast IS together and then some.. Some of the sex is hot.  Okay. it's all hot and depending on what turns you on, there's bread and butter and toast and bagels and the idea that one thing an Arrowhead vacation can do is inspire connections. 

Amazing tech that literally vibrates the space and the gorgeous set and dedicated company of IAMA which I still don't understand what it really stands for.. has gathered an idea and professionally mounted it with pretty much a gayish theme that is well presented.  Bring a seat belt.

Cast:

Amielynn Abellera, Stefanie Black, Lindsay Coryne, Adrián González, Kathleen Littlefield, Kacie Rogers, Nate Smith

The creative team includes scenic designer Carolyn Mraz; lighting designer Kai Hirota Magee; sound designer Eliza Vedar; costume designer Danae Iris McQueen; properties designer Nicole Bernardini; intimacy director Celina Surniak; and casting director Jordan Bass. Rosalind Bevan is associate director; Daniel Cyzpinski is the technical director; and Zaira Paredes-Villegas is the production stage manager alongside assistant stage manager Isabella Gomez and wardrobe supervisor Athena Saxon. Quinn O'Connor produces and Katharine Means co-produces for IAMA Theatre Company 

IAMA Theatre Company 

 World premiere of Arrowhead 

 by Catya McMullen

Performances: Feb. 8 – March 4

• Thursdays at 8 p.m.: Feb. 8 ONLY (Opening Night)
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Feb. 9; Feb. 16; Feb. 23; March 1
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Feb. 3 (Preview); Feb. 10; Feb. 17; Feb. 24; March 2
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Feb. 11; Feb. 18; Feb. 25; March 3
• Sundays at 8 p.m.: Feb. 4 ONLY (Preview)
• Mondays at 8 p.m.: Feb. 19; Feb. 26; March 4 (dark Feb. 12) 

• General Admission (except Feb. 19 and Feb. 36) $40
• Mondays, Feb. 19 and Feb. 26: Pay-What-You-Can
• Previews: $25

Tickets and Information:
iamatheatre.com
(323) 380-8843 

Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
• FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.