IN THE WINGS - May 2009 - Theatre

WHEW! NOW FOR LEGITIMATE THEATRE: Some excellent work done in Equity Waiver small theatres are at: The Ivy Substation in Culver City which houses

The Actors’ Gang, Tim Robbins company. I recently saw a revival of the powerful THE CATONSVILLE NINE there. In 1968 two brothers,Catholic priests, and seven activists, protesting US’s involvement in Vietnam, broke into a draft board office, stole hundreds of 1-A draft cards and burned them. The play is based on actual records of the trial where they were convicted. I remember seeing this at the Taper downtown in the ‘80s when the writer/priest, Father Daniel Berrigan was in the audience after his prison release and received a tremendous ovation. The Ivy’s production was wonderful. Currently playing there is Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning classic, OUR TOWN, about small town American life. Very good.

HALF OF PLENTY, at Rogue Machine in Theatre Theatre on Pico, deals with a young married couple taking care of an aging parent with dementia. The three main characters are great. I also saw the wonderful FATA MORGANA, a delightfully sensuous comedy at the Pacific Resident in Venice. I hope they bring it back.

THE ACCOMPLICES, a Fountain Theatre production, is presented at the Odyssey. Deals with one Israeli man coming to the U.S. trying to save thousand of Jews from Eastern Europe’s oppression and Hitler’s Germany during the early ‘30s. A historic time and very interestingly done. The Fountain always has an excellent play on their boards. PHOTOGRAPH 51 was extended by popular demand. It’s about Rosalind Franklin, a British biophysicist involved in the discovery of DNA and should have been in the sharing of the Nobel Peace Prize. So well done. Staged nicely and beautifully directed by Simon Levy, bringing tears to our eyes.

Playwright, screenwriter, director and drag legend Charles Busch takes on the role of Lady Bracknell in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST June 17-21 in L.A. Theatre Works production at the Skirball Cultural Center.

THE PANTAGES in Hollywood is featuring DIRTY DANCING, the legit version of that marvelous Patrick Swayze film. The staging was fabulous and sexy dancing in this is so good and really ready for Broadway. See this before it closes June 28^th.

I’M anxiously awaiting the arrival of Lillian Hellman’s classic play, THE LITTLE FOXES at the Pasadena Playhouse. Kelly McGillis and Julia Duffy head the cast . It’s about a wealthy and greedy Southern family. Will be playing Pasadena by the time you read this. It’s a marvelous play, see it.

LA TRAVIATA, Verdi’s popular opera was done beautifully at the Chandler Pavilion downtown , sung in Italian with English subtitles.

ENOUGH SAID FOR NOW. More later. Continue to be entertained. I’ll be back soon. XOXO Harriette