Los Angeles Theater Briefs Vol: 926

Theater Review: The People of Pompeii

Bernardo Cubria has done what he does best in, The People of Pompeii. In riffing on the comedic myopia of Topanga culture, he also pulls a contemplative lens out for a wide view on current politics in America. Cubria stirs local-inspired Enchanted Crystal Cauldron-lifestyle on the Theatricum Botanicum stage in front an audience who knows full-well the meaning of all the nods. And are probably living them.  Which may be why this play has garnered massive appeal thus far. Masquerading as light fare, Cubria actually puts an exclamation point to highly charged, identity politics, but also leaves room for the healing we desperately need right now. Recommended. “Guardate! Il vulcano!”

Theater Review: Art of Heartbreak

At it again is Force of Nature with a new, pre-Halloween, horror-inspired production. The price you pay for denying your dreams, according to playwright Matt Ritchey is the Art of Heartbreak. The company has taken Ritchey’s original script and created a 70s style “Night Gallery”, Monster Mash-up, detective-y, Fallen Saints, love story that sometimes defies logic (and direction). But in the end, gives “good (horrifying) terminus”. “Choose your words wisely.”

Theater Review: Pericles

Inventive is the word of the day. Boston Court has triumphantly re-imagined one of (allegedly) Shakespeare’s clumsiest and convoluted (let alone not so Bard-sounding) works into a meta masterpiece. Placing Pericles in a school gymnasium, emergency shelter during a hurricane, and having the evacuees step into roles spontaneously to drive all the action isn’t mere sparkle. It is a theatrical breath of fresh air for this, almost-never-performed, hot mess. Beautifully directed by Margaret Shigeko Starbuck, the soap-opera-ish, tragicomical adventure is superbly led by crack actor, Joel Swetow. Recommended. “Time (really IS) the wisest counselor of all.”

Theater Review: Before It’s Too Late

It’s never too late. Not really, as playwright/performer Christopher Moncayo-Torres demonstrates in his profoundly intimate, two-hour, semi-one person show. Before It’s Too Late takes storytelling, improv, an attempt at cooking, a live three-way WhatsApp call with his Ecuadorian family, and a translator, to help Moncayo-Torres bridge the divide between himself and his parents. A comedic, familial tale of excessive exploration, this world premiere, playing at Outside in Theatre, displays an unrestrained list of Moncayo-Torres’ family issues and history, laying bare every detail and even some secrets that have, until now, left him with a life-long sense of internal displacement from both his parents. His quest is to finally heal all that. But this show is not without humor. Starting with Moncayo-Torres’ dad being the most expensive “prop” in the production. Before It’s Too Late is filled with raw, messy, spontaneous honesty by the playwright, his sisters and his parents who join him for the journey on stage and live on screen for a genuine “coming together”. They reveal, so much more than anyone is prepared for in a single evening. But getting everyone in the same room…like… the best Seco de Pollo ever! “Do you love me?” “You’re a fool.” … “Then you love me?” “I suppose I do.”

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Lead Press Photo by Brian Hashimoto: Julanne Chidi Hill. Desiree Mee Jung. Adam J Smith. Joel Swetow. Rio Rasch. Nicole Javier. And, Alexander Matos in Pericles at Boston Court.