Lee Redmond's new play in the small space up the heart attack steps at The Lonny Chapman Group Repertony Theatre is a hike and a laugh possibly worth exploring.
The device of a guy in the coma, Tom..or Tommy or Thomas or Mr. Axelrod. has its moments, but not enough to engage for the entire two acts that the story demands.
Staging is awkward, and the actors need to shout practically from the get go makes for a trial by volume. This is an awkward way to say that if the director had any sense of rhythm or how to find the funny stuff in a situation with the guy in the coma unseen by the rest of the cast commenting on the argument and the situation.. yes.. it's pretty much a situation farce with little subtlety. The best line in the show was an ad lib by Tom, Tommy, Thomas when the stage lights began to flash red and green incessantly for no reason.. A tech guy came out at intermission to explain. Poop happens.
Broad characters with little to offer but shouting.. mostly, made for a long evening even with the early curtain.
The flip side and it's important! Don't sit behind a kid with haystack hair that blots out the entire stage left side of the stage. Sit higher up!
Keep in mind that tthe Group Rep is a dedicated company with members who are sincere in their efforts to bring a show to life. This play really does have life in the text. I know this, but two dimensional presentation of characters who actually may have three dimensions, except for Coma Guy.. and maybe with the fix on the tech, some kind professional may spend some tiem with the actors, reciting from memory Hamlet's Advice to the Players and hope to goodness, that they may take Hamlet's advice to heart.
In cases like this..when the text has value but the recitation and the presentation are thin, a truly intriguing story with surprises and some fun slips ... it is just a shame.
GRT is a community playhouse. Lonny Chapman's gift to North Hollywood is important and the efforts there are geared, mostly, to the tastes of their current administration and the local audience. This show deserves an audience in spite of my having a difficult time with it.
The post show curtain speech by Tom, Thomas, Tommy was sincere and kind. He emphasized the importance of us all, audience and players and all.. agreeing to climb the stairs, catch our breath and abandon disbelief for a unique experience. The sad thing for this performance is that the screwy run away lights and the ad lib were the highlight of the show.
The text and the premise are valid and with proper handling might be a hit. Or at least some fun.
Rather than embarrass the cast by naming names, I can say that on one level, every actor was pumped up and rarin' to go. What blew it for me was the volume .. the yelling.. the missed cues, the staging that needs a lot of help.
CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT ‘EM
Thursday, April 11 at 7pm – Opening Night
Saturday, April 13 at 4pm
Sunday, April 14 at 7pm (Talkback with cast & staff)
Thursday, April 18 at 7pm
Saturday, April 20 at 4pm
Sunday, April 21 at 7pm (Talkback with cast & staff)
Thursday, April 25 at 7pm (Dr. Payne U/S Danny Salay performs)
Saturday, April 27 at 4pm (Dr. Payne U/S Danny Salay performs)
Sunday, April 28 at 7pm (Dr. Payne U/S Danny Salay performs)
Thursday, May 2 at 7pm (Chrissy U/S Holly Seidcheck performs)
Saturday, May 4 at 4pm (Chrissy U/S Holly Seidcheck performs)
Sunday, May 5 at 7pm (Chrissy U/S Holly Seidcheck performs)
Thursday, May 9 at 7pm
Saturday, May 11 at 4pm
Sunday, May 12 at 7pm (Mother’s Day) – Show Closes
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