FOR WANT OF A HORSE AT THE ECHO

 "The perils of empathy.."

Polyamorous?  What's good for the goose in Hungary? Zoophilia?? Gene and Roy are spinning..  

Olivia Dufault's FOR WANT OF A HORSE, currently at the Echo gives a whole new meaning to "Back in the Saddle Again.." 

Trigger and Champion are equine heroes that I grew up with and loved as the loyal mounts of their respective cowboy pals, Roy and Gene.  Heroes with Heroic mounts. Buttermilk was steadfast for Dale Evans.Horse companions. Good Steeds.

 

Griffin Kelly and Jenny Soo
Photo by Cooper Bates

Ps

FOR WANT OF A HORSE  is recommended for 'adult' audiences.  It's a choppy cinematic diversion with an excellent cast, including a horse named  Q-Tip played beautifully by Griffin Kelly, who may slightly resemble the playwright. Q Tip is a filly who addresses the audience so that we can hear her equine thoughts. Apples are an  aphrodesiac.

Calvin and Bonnie (Stephen Culp and Jenny Soo)  are a hip young  married couple with whom an 'interesting' idea comes to light.  .  Calvin, prompted by his quirky pal, BJ (Joey Stromberg), ambles into discussons of... well.. animals as lovers.  What about those few of us who grow into deep attachements to our furry friends? Here in hangs the tail.

Director Alana Luo's staging executes short scenes from Calvin and Bonnie's bedroom to stables and other locations with Alex Mollo's flexible set pieces.  Matthew Richter's lights and some interstitial music keep things flowing.

I so appreciate that Chris Fields and the Echo take huge leaps of faith to showcase theatre that not only pushes the envelope, but in this case obliterates it. Excellent chops by each of the actors. The script is laced with now common expletives heard in casual chats where ever folks are chatting.

What is perverse?  This is a question for the ages as we see the land we live in twisted like a pretzel by you know who and we know why.. Thus... The story of a love triangle : QTip, Calvin and Bonnie may not be so far fetched. Daily,  life becomes stranger and stranger.

Do I rrecommend that you see this play?  The playwright says that she first learned of including animals in intimate relationships frm an article in New York Magazine ten years ago. Over time she wrestled the idea into an oddly interesting premise that pays off in.. well in a way.. in apples. Yes!  Yes, I do.. Find the nuances.  Consider an odd idea? 

This was my first pass at this review. The other review is just different. Here I feel the need to carry on a bit and include cultural references that might ring a  bell  with some readers.  As I often say.. this show deserves an audience, but the caveat is that it's fraught with adult themes. and apples.  Bring apples.

 FOR WANT OF A HORSE

A WORLD PREMIERE
Written by Olivia Dufault
Directed by Elana Luo
 
LIGHTING DESIGN Matthew Richter
SCENIC DESIGN Alex Mollo 

COSTUME DESIGN Leah Morrison
PUBLICITY Lucy Pollak
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Bianca Rickheim
SOUND DESIGN Alysha Bermudez
For Want of a Horse
PRODUCED BY
Marie Bland and Chris Fields

 

 World premiere of For Want of a Horse, 
• Written by Olivia Dufault
• Directed by Elana Luo
• Starring Steven Culp, Griffin Kelly, Jenny Soo, Joey Stromberg
• Presented by The Echo Theater Company, Chris Fields artistic director

WHEN:
April 15-May 25
• Previews:
Wednesday, April 15, Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m.
• Performances:
April 18 through May 25
Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. / Sundays at 4 p.m.

WHERE:
Echo Theater Company
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

PARKING:
FREE in the Atwater Crossing (AXT) lot one block south of the theater

TICKET PRICES:
$15 – $42.75
• Pay–What–You–Want starting at $15 cash at the door plus an additional $1.50 per ticket fee if purchasing online or at the door with a credit card.
• Early Bird tickets to Friday, Saturday or Sunday performances through April 3 (available online only): $20 plus a $1.75 credit card fee.
• Tickets to Friday, Saturday or Sunday performances purchased after April 3: $40 cash with an additional $2.75 fee per ticket if using a credit card.

CONTENT WARNING:
For Want of a Horse addresses mature sexual themes in an explicit (although non-graphic) manner and is recommended for ages 18 and up.

HOW:
EchoTheaterCompany.com
(747) 350-8066

 

 

WORLD PREMIERE.. FOR WANT OF A HORS.. II

Olivia Dufault's WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF "FOR WANT OF A HORSE".. WOW!!

 

Griffin Kelly and Joey Stromberg
Photo by Cooper Bates

My experiences of reviewing theatre for many years always comes down to how to begin. What will be my first sentence to set the tone: a lead line?  

This is my second go at it. Check my first attempt also here somewhere........

World Premiere!  Why? Well..it IS a first..

Echo producer Chris Fields is an artist to be reckoned with and has been a force majeure  in Los Angeles Theatre for a long time.  I love that he takes chances and has turned the Echo space at the Atwater complex into dozens of wonderful  sizes and shapes. This set is pretty simple.  Alex Mollo's spare design with some moving set pieces takes us to stables, a bedroom.. and other simple nondescript locations.  This challenges us to abandon disbelief.. It works.

Have I found a first sentence?  Laurel and Hardy in Flying Deuces?  Last line?  "Another fine mess you've gotten me into!!"?

Why? We are in the historical chaos of the Absurd. Somehow the world is foundering  with new language. New pronouns? New theatre? War? Lunacy??  Absurd!

If FOR WANT OF A HORSE is the way that we are going. Heaven Help Us.. 

Why?  Because as absurd as it might be, I sat with an audience who seemed to "Get It" that a young couple: Bonnie and Calvin, are discussing  ideas about sex and sexual preference in a way that leads us not only to polyamourous encounters to expand their relationship, but moving to include...     

a horse... 

Q-Tip.. (limned with exquisite sincerity by Griffin Kelly) is a filly.. a mare.. an equine.. 

 That playwright Olivia Dufault happens to be at the vanguard of where...  at least. Western Society is headed, may help us to understand Why?  She reports reading an article in New York Magazine ten years ago that got her all curious about how some human beings are sincerely in love with non-human beings.  Animals, to be exact. This leads to 'why'.. to research and she has  come up with a scenario that includes  a man's literal love of...  a horse.

Add to the mix.. a discussion with PJ (excellent and fast talking / rationalizer Steven Culp) whose first light on stage discusses peanut butter and a beloved dog.  Create your own scenario for this one.

What about the production? Well. you may ask..  What director Elana Luo  has failed to see is that presentation of this unusual story as though the premise is an every day thing that most folks may consider easily is a "straight" play.  I don't think so.

 Beckett, Pirandello and Ionesco had far out ideas and successfully brought them to life with exposure of absurdity that we still appreciate as abstract social commentary. 

Far Out..

The moment in the play where Bonnie (Jenny Soo) asks husband Calvin (Joey Stromberg) about  "consent" and elsewhere in the script where 'empathy' may factor in, .. brings the argument into focus.  The absurdity of the whole idea..  Q-Tip addressing the audience and some cool business with apples is worthy of expanding.

Had the play been directed with each character much larger than life with a taste of Commedia tossed in .. graphic expansion of PJ's fascination with peanut butter and maybe a reference to a gerbil or two? The absurdity may have blossomed into an acceptably  ridiculous romp.  In future productions? It may?

Does the dialogue just lie there? No. It's played as straight as straight can be, as though this new normal  may be a little outrè, but why not? We are in Bizzoro Land! Current behavior around the world, especially in the United States as of this writing?  Off the charts: Bizzare!  So?  Why Not?

Bottom line is that this  is not just a straight play. It's nuts.  It should be  expansive and explosive to the point that the audience is rocked back in our seats with how crazy it really is that we are sitting still for this.    Enraged "plants" in the audience? Standing UP..and  yelling and stomping out? 

The kicker waiting in the wings?

Is this a polemic to suggest that  zoophilia is okay? PJ says it's okay in Hungary!!   Sorta.  

(I just corrected a typo:  Poohphelia! This would make a visit to Disneyland very interesting!) 

To what extent does each member of this cast give consent?  Do we empathize with them?  Might there be some psychic residue ? 

Is it just a play?  

Technically, expecially the well choreographed scene changes aided by interstitial music are impressive. Each player is equally  authentic to the other.. But.. This is not a "Straight Play".. it's an adventure into a netherworld that echoes the cos-play conventions of 'Furries"  or other . to me.. "bizzare interests" that, from the Marquis De Sade to Ru Paul's Drag Race to Zoophilia may be better presented as a far out romp. with apples!

Support weird theatre! 

See this one!! 

FOR WANT OF A HORSE

A WORLD PREMIERE
Written by Olivia Dufault
Directed by Elana Luo
 
LIGHTING DESIGN Matthew Richter
SCENIC DESIGN Alex Mollo 

COSTUME DESIGN Leah Morrison
PUBLICITY Lucy Pollak
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Bianca Rickheim
SOUND DESIGN Alysha Bermudez

PRODUCED BY
Marie Bland and Chris Fields
• Directed by Alana  Luo
• Starring Steven Culp, Griffin Kelly, Jenny Soo, Joey Stromberg
• Presented by The Echo Theater Company, Chris Fields artistic director

WHEN:
April 15-May 25
• Previews:
Wednesday, April 15, Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 8 p.m.
• Performances:
April 18 through May 25
Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. / Sundays at 4 p.m.

WHERE:
Echo Theater Company
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

PARKING:
FREE in the Atwater Crossing (AXT) lot one block south of the theater

TICKET PRICES:
$15 – $42.75
• Pay–What–You–Want starting at $15 cash at the door plus an additional $1.50 per ticket fee if purchasing online or at the door with a credit card.
• Early Bird tickets to Friday, Saturday or Sunday performances through April 3 (available online only): $20 plus a $1.75 credit card fee.
• Tickets to Friday, Saturday or Sunday performances purchased after April 3: $40 cash with an additional $2.75 fee per ticket if using a credit card.

CONTENT WARNING:
For Want of a Horse addresses mature sexual themes in an explicit (although non-graphic) manner and is recommended for ages 18 and up.

HOW:
EchoTheaterCompany.com
(747) 350-8066

 

DEATH OF A SALESMAN at A Noise Within

 In Chistopehr Bigsby's copious  introduction to Death of a Salesman, one quote stands out:  "When today fails to offer the justification for hope, tomorrow becomes the only grail worth pursuing."

Shades of Scarlett O'Hara but still Hope.

With ANW's pithy production of Richard III and Miller's ode to 'what might have been'.. these days in 2026 not only in The United States,but as well as in the World, we seem to have all reside on tenderhooks.   This review does not intend to delve deeply into an analysis of the play or the characters. The title says it all. That said.. this production hangs on the director, the scenic design and the performances. Director Julia Rodriguez - Elliott brings Arthur Miller's signature classic to life with simple strokes, allowing the story to unfold with her evenly selected cast.. 

As Willy Loman, Geoff Elliott offers passionate  braggadocio with fantastic hopes and dreams  in his nuanced interpretation of the Miller classic. Willy Loman is the Everyman who has worked like anything all his life partly on a shoeshine and a smile. Sales. Elliott  sells it  well.

On Frederica Nascimento's exquisite set: spare with the looming intrusion of the growing neighborhood , we are invited to imagine a simple home and other basic locations. Ken Booth's lights serve well.

As Linda, Deborah Strang, a favorite of mine and long time ANW  ensemble member, understands the pitiful devotion  that women of Linda's generation lived: resolved to a fierce adherance to the times.  The perfect helpmate. The ebb and flow of Strang's work from age sixty something to an earlier time in flashback is perfect.

David Kepner, Geoff Elliott,
Deborah Strang and Ian Littleworth
Photo by Craig Schwartz

As Biff (David Kepner) home again at the age of thirtythree, struggles and has struggled to 'find himself'.  In a flashback, Teen Biff ignores the coaxing of  Young Bernard (Kasey Mahaffy) who idolizes him, to study to pass a math exam in order to graduate and make the family proud  as a football hero at U VA. Biff fails. Kepner succeeds.

Younger borther Happy (Ian Littleworth)  has stayed at home working in a low level job.He's a City Slicker who almost teams with Biff for the Big Time. No luck there.

Attention has been paid to the Brooklyn accents that the cast works to achieve.  Though it was a distravtion for me.. Each was consistent.

I often like to mention supporting characters, as they are the seasoning that makes the play have substance.. "Substance" is what Willy longs for.    The Woman (Cassandra Marie Murphy) and Howard (Michael Uribes) and Miss Forsythe  (Dominique Razón) the work is solid.  Uncle Ben's (David Nevell)  bombast was bombastic.

Of the productions of Salesman that I've seen, this one is the most accomplished.  Elliott -Rodriguez's hand is light and gives the actors room to move.  

After the matinee, a very nice patron of the theatre asked me if I enjoyed the show?  Because of the nature of the play, I had to demure.  How does one 'enjoy' the story of what is eventualy, a failure?  I appreciate the work and you should, too. Empathy and sympathy for the players reach across the apron of the spare stage. Not a lot of laughs, but appreciation of the message, as sad as it is. See this play.

CAST

Willy Loman - Geoff Elliott
Linda Loman - Deborah Strang
Happy. - Ian Littleworth
Biff - David Kepner
Bernard -  Kasey Mahaffy
The Woman - Cassandra Marie Murphy
Charley - .Bert Emmett
Uncle Ben - David Nevell
Howard Wagner - Michael Uribes
Stanley - Jacob Cherry
Miss Forsythe  -  Dominique Razón
Letta - Rachel K. Han 

CREW

Scentic Designer: Frederica Nascimento Costume designer Angela Balogh Calin Lighting designer Ken Booth 

Sound designer and composer Robert Oriol Wig and make up designer Tony Valdés Poperties designer Stephen Taylor 

Fight choreographer KennethR.Merckx, Jr.; 

Dialect coach Andrea Odinov 

Intimacy coordinator Sasha Smith Dramaturg Miranda Johnson-Haddad. Stage manager Angela Sonner Assistant Stage Manager Samantha Millette

Press Representative for ANW:  Lucy Pollak

 

DEATH OF A SALESMAN

b y Arthur Miller 

A Noise Within
3352 E Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107

March 22-April 19
Previews March 22 – March 27:
• Sunday at 2 p.m. / Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Performances March 28 – April 19:
• Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7: 30 p.m. / Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. (no Saturday matinee on March 28)

ADDITIONAL DATES:
• A one-hour INsiders Discussion Group will take place prior to the matinee on Sunday, March 29 beginning at 12:30 p.m.
• Post-performance conversations with the artists every Friday (except the preview) and Sunday, April 5.
• Student matinees are scheduled on select weekdays at 10:30 a.m. Interested educators should email education@anoisewithin.org.

 TICKETS:
• Tickets start at $41.75 (including fees)
• Student tickets start at $20
• Wednesday, March 26 and Thursday, March 27 (previews): Pay What You Choose starting at $10 (available online beginning the Monday prior to that performance)
• Discounts available for groups of 10 or more

HOW:
anoisewithin.org
(626) 356-3100