HOME PAGE
SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
REVIEWS
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
Writing for Us
A CurtainUp Los Angeles Review
End Days
| If all we have is us and one short lifetime – it’s not so bad. — Rachel
|
Zoe Perry and Charlie Saxton
|
Rachel (Zoe Perry), the teen-age daughter, is the sole sane member of the family. Her mother Sylvia (Abigail Revasch) is a Jesus freak, followed by the man himself (Andrew Ableson) in white gown with beneficent hands. Her father Arthur (Loren Lester) hasn’t taken his PJs off for years. Visitor Nelson (Charlie Saxton), a short plump nerd, follows Rachel adoringly.
Rachel goes around in a perpetual state of fury trying to shake off Nelson. He’s persistent. To her amazement she finds herself planting big kisses on his mouth.
The second act follows Sylvia’s obsession to the end of the world, which one assumes gives the play its title. The program states Laufer reports writing plays that worry her but usually winding up with more questions. Questions are what it’s all about, so there’s no harm done.
Under the sly direction of Lisa James, the play rips along at a roaring pace. The cast is well chosen, headed by Saxton who gives a wonderfully understated performance as Nelson. Perry holds the stage as Rachel, despite a more thinly written part. Arthur’s character grows and changes, even to clean clothes. And we mustn’t forget Stephen Hawking (Ableson again) in wheel chair with voice over.
The women are the only ones who fantasize, Rachel with alarm, Sylvia blithely. If that’s a comment on the richer fantasy life of the distaff sex, it works.
The costumes, including Nelson’s Superman suit, are shrewdly designed by Kathryn Poppen. The elaborate lighting design, stretching the mark for such a small theatre, is courtesy of Jeremy Pivick. Low-key set is by Jeff McLaughlin.
Ron Sossi’s Odyssey lives up to its reputation as an innovator, 42 years and counting.
|
Title: End Days Playwright: Deborah Zoe Laufer Director: Lisa James Cast: Nelson (Charlie Saxton), Arthur (Loren Lester), Sylvia (Abigail Revasch), Jesus/Stephen Hawking (Andrew Ableson), Rachel (Zoe Perry) Scenic Design: Jeff McLaughlin Lighting Design: Jeremy Pivnick Costume Design: Kathryn Poppen Sound Design: Matthew Beville Prop Design: Katherine S. Hunt Production Stage Manager: Julie Simpson When: August 20-October 16, 2011 Where: Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Reservations: (310) 477-2055 Reviewed by Laura Hitchcock on August 21. |
|
Subscribe to our FREE email updates with a note from editor Elyse
Sommer about additions to the website -- with main page hot links to
the latest features posted at our numerous locations. To
subscribe,
E-mail: esommer@curtainup.comesommer@curtainup.com put SUBSCRIBE CURTAINUP EMAIL UPDATE in the subject line and your full name and email address in the body of the message -- if you can spare a minute, tell us how you came to CurtainUp and from what part of the country. Visit Curtainup's Blog Annex For a feed to reviews and features as they are posted add http://curtainupnewlinks.blogspot.com to your reader Curtainup at Facebook . . . Curtainup at Twitter REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email. . .also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. |
In the Heights
