I, DANIEL BLAKE at The Fountain

 What  do you get when you take a 2016 British Film,  create a play from the same script  with British characters,  mount it on the stage with a fine ensemble cast?  That would be the theatre version of "I, Daniel Blake" with the United States Premiere production at the Fountain Theatre in Hollywood.

Makara Gamble, JD Cullum, Philicia Saunders
Photo by Cooper Bates

A widower, Dan Blake (JD Cullum), lives in New Castle Upon Tyre, north of London, where the accents are a little wonky, the skies are not so blue and cheering up is .. at best..a marginal proposition.What Cullum does with his character is a primer in stage acting. The accents for all the ensemble are close enough and, thankfully, understandable. Cullum underplays the escalating frustration of Daniel Blake successfully bringing him to life. Cullum seems a little young for a 'old guy' with a heart condition, but it works.

Dan has had a heart attack. He is trying like anything to follow  his doctor's orders to take it easy until he is physically fit to return to work.  He's a carpenter.. But. the 'system' has protocols  and rules that are 'decided' by a 'decision maker'  who never appears,. The Decision Maker's minions do their best to explain to Dan that "All He Has To Do" is go on line and follow some simple instructions to move the process of assistance along. If only he had a computer! Dan is quizzed by an unseen cog in the failing British bureaucracy (Janet Greaves)  as to his ability to press the numbers on a telephone  or lift his arm so as to place a hat on his head, never addressing Dan's  basic issue:  

Daniel Blake's Heart.

Enter  Katie (excellent Philicia Saunders) and her kid ..wise and adorable Daisy (Really excellent Makara Gamble) who have arrived from London to be settled in a crappy flat .. first day. No heat.. no help from the bureaucrats.  Katie and Daisy are  as up against it as any mum and  daughter have ever been up against it. Sadly, Katie and Daisy's woes are exacerbated  for arriving a few minutes late for an appointment to get some assistance. Dan tries to help. Adam Segaller (playing several guys in the ensemble),first shines as the security guard who virtually tosses Katie and Daisy and Dan into the street.

Here in hangs the tale.

The play is beautifully staged by Simon Levy, with a dedicated ensemble cast who mesh like the gears of a wind up clock. 

A spark plug for the show is Wesley Guimarães as Dan's neighbor, China.. a high energy chap who longs for success and may just find it with a partner in China.. who provides  a deal on ''trainers" / athletic shoes.  

The show runs sans intermission and is, naturally, very cinematic in tone. This is because, as noted, "I,Daniel Blake" was  first a film with the streets of New Castle adding a burden to the sad condition that shows lots of  folks who need help what with standing on queue for a hand out that may be a daily thing.

The clockwork timing features damning 'tweets?' projected on the various video screens that are also  used to delineate locations. it works nicely.  Lights by Alison Brummer and well placed sounds  by Cricket Myers keep the reality of the argument  alive.  It's about doing the right thing in the face of bureaucratic  roadblocks, not unlike some of the bumps in the road for US folks who need a leg up.   Choose the center section of the house for the best enjoyment of the show.

 CAST:

Daniel Blake : JD Cullum*
Daisy : Makara Gamble*
Sheila /Ensemble : Janet Greaves*
China : Wesley Guimarães*
Katie : Philicia Saunders
Floor Manager / Ensemble: AdamSegaller*

CREW:

Movement. & Intimacy Direction
Allison Bibicoff
Asst. Stage Mgmt.
Gina DeLuca
Prod. Stage Mgmt.
Anna Kupershmidt
Costume Design
Michael Mullen
Lighting Design
Alison Brummer
Asst. Dialect Coach
Victoria Hanlin
Prop Design
Jenine MacDonald
Sound Design
Cricket Myers
Technical Direction
Scott Tuomey

Publicity

Lucy Pollak

 

"I, Daniel Blake"

adapted by Dave Johns  from the film version "I, Daniel Blake"  directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty. 

Staged by Simon Levy for The Fountain

The Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Ave.
Los Angeles CA 90029
(Fountain at Normandie 

Performances: Oct. 13 – Nov. 24
• Wednesday at 8 p.m.: Oct. 9 (preview) ONLY
• Thursday at 8 p.m.: Oct. 10 (preview) ONLY
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 11 (preview), Oct. 18, Oct. 25; Nov. 1, Nov. 15, Nov. 22 (dark Nov. 8)
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 12 (preview), Oct. 19, Oct. 26; Nov. 2, Nov. 16, Nov. 23 (dark Nov. 9)
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Oct. 20, Oct. 27; Nov. 3, Nov. 17, Nov. 24 (no 2 p.m. show on Oct. 13, dark Nov. 10)
• Sunday at 7 p.m.: Oct. 13 (opening night) ONLY
• Mondays at 8 p.m.: Oct. 21, Oct. 28; Nov. 4, Nov. 18 (dark Oct. 14 and Nov. 11)) 

TICKET PRICES:
$25 – $45:
• Premium Seating: $45
• Regular Seating: $40
• Seniors 65 or older: $35 (regular seating only)
• Students: $25 (valid ID required)
• Monday nights: Regular seating ($40) and Pay–What–You–Want (subject to availability)
www.FountainTheatre.com
(323) 663-1525