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
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