ALL MY SONS  by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Arthur Miller (October 15, 1915 – February 10, 2005) was an American playwright whose dramas were popular from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s.  He also wrote some screenplays, most notably The Misfts which starred Marilyn Monroe who he later married. 

            One of Miller’s plays, All My Sons, opened on Broadway January 29, 1947.  After 328 performances it closed November 9, 1949 and won New York Drama Critics Circle Award.  This wonderful drama is being presented at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice with a sterling production.

            World War II began in 1939 and ended in 1945.  This play takes place in the backyard of the Keller home in the outskirts of an American town in August, 1947.  Joe Keller (Richard Fancy) runs a factory that, during the war, provided parts for fighter-planes used against the enemy.  He and his wife Kate (Terry Davis) have two sons who fought for their country during the war.  Chris (Marc Valera) came home.  Unfortunately, their eldest son Larry went missing in action and, unfortunately, Kate is certain that her son is still alive and, without a doubt, will someday come back home.

            Larry was engaged to marry Ann Deever (Amy-Helene Carlson) who moved away after his disappearance.  Chris has invited Ann to come for a visit leaving Kate quite upset when she realizes his intent is to ask Ann to marry him.  This undermines all thoughts of Larry ever coming home!  She is totally against their marriage even though Ann has accepted Chris’s proposal and admits her love for him.

            As the play progresses we learn that Joe and Ann’s father Steve were once partners in the factory and due to some parts that were installed in some aircraft that Joe told Steve to use, twenty-one Air Force pilots died.  It turned out the parts were defective and Steve ended up in prison, while Joe, who claimed he was home sick that day, was cleared.

            Suddenly Ann’s brother George (Scott Deever) shows up at the Keller home because both he and his father have heard about Ann’s intent to marry Chris and they both intend to keep it from happening.  As the plot thickens, we learn more and more about the truth of the entire story, why Ann’s family is so adamant about her becoming a part of Joe’s family even though, no matter what, she intends to marry the man she loves.  The play builds up, increasing in its intensity until its final moment.

            All My Sons is a classic.  It was made into a film in 1948, and again in 1987.  It allows for very dramatic acting, and keeps an audience’s interest throughout.  The Pacific Resident Theatre’s production is an exceptionally outstanding revival of this play.  Richard Fancy has been a member of PTR for many years.  I have seen him in a number of plays and he is one of the finest actors on our local stages.  His background also includes films and television.

            Marc Valera and Scott Jackson deserve special recognition for their performances.  However, the entire cast gives energy to this production under the direction of Elina De Santos.  Other cast members include Enzo De Angelis (Bert), Scott Sheldon/stand-in for Rick Garrison (Frank Lubey), Tania Getty (Sue Bayliss ), Jason Huber (Dr. Jim Bayliss) and Katy Downing/stand-in for Jennifer Pollono (Lydia Lubey).            

            All My Sons plays Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 PM, Sunday at 3 PM, through November 15, with, one Saturday matinee on Nov. 16, at 3 PM.  For information and tickets call (310) 322 8392, or go online.

            HIGHLY RECOMMENDED                    

           

CHAMP AND HIS FOUR WOMEN by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

Champ and His Four Women is a new play written by local playwright Art Shulman.  He has written many full-length plays that include comedies, dramas, and dramedies.  He says, “I’ve written over 60 plays, including 14 produced full-length plays (some not produced yet) and many one-acts.”   His plays have been produced throughout the United States as well as in Canada.

            

A premier of one of Shulman’s plays, Champ and His Four Women, is being performed at T.U. Theatre in North Hollywood.  It takes place in the living room of Champ’s condominium in the present time.  Champ is also known as Richard (Anthony Backman).

            

Richard lives alone and has since his wife Princess, also known as Susie (Rebecca Westberg) passed away two years ago.  Unfortunately, her demise has left a big hole in Richard’s life and, in his imagination he still sees her and communicates with her.  Obviously, Richard’s whole life is in confusion, and he has difficulty living it normally.  Therefore, he decides to put his condo up for sale.

            

Enter Real Estate Agent Cheryl (Caroline Westheimer) a very attractive young lady who, without meaning to, upsets Richard’s life somewhat because he finds her an attractive friendly lady.  Richard does not seek a woman in his life since his marriage was so perfect with Susie.  However, his wonderful neighbor, Esther (Leah Bass) finds Caroline in his house in an early morning when she delivers him his laundry which she, so helpfully, has been doing for him since the loss of Susie.  Of course, he plays down the evening they spent together and lets Esther know that they each slept in separate bedrooms.  Of course, Esther thinks that it is time for Richard to begin a normal life, and finding a mate can’t be wrong.

            

And wouldn’t you know it?  Another lovely young lady, Annie (Shelby Janes) enters his life and she has an eye for him as well.  And now he is torn more, meanwhile, trying to figure out what is happening to him while he continues his conversations with his imaginative Susie.  In his struggle to return to a happy life, he must deal with four women, Esther who tries to give him advice, Cheryl, his real estate professional, Annie, a cute woman who sometimes reminds him of Susie, and then there is Susie who doesn’t really exist.  Will Richard finally make his decision to come back to life and choose a woman to make him happy once again?

            

Champ and His Four Women has a great deal of reality to it.  It is not unusual when a perfect marriage is upset by the loss of one’s partner and the remaining one finds it difficult to go on living a happy life.  But that is life, and we have to hope that the remaining spouse can keep on living a normal life after a certain amount of time devoted to bereavment.

             

The play is written in a light comedy style with a talented cast that does justice to their characters under the astute direction of Stan Mazin.  It plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through November 24, at Theatre Unlimited (T.U. Studios), 10943 Camarillo St., North Hollywood.  For tickets, go to onstage411.com.   

BARRYMORE  by Carol Kaufman Segal

John Barrymore, February 15, 1882 - May 29, 1942, was an American stage and screen actor, a member of a famous theatrical family in America.  His father, Maurice Barrymore, was a famous stage actor and his mother, Georgie Drew, was the daughter of actor John Drew.  They had three children, all of whom became famous actors.  Lionel was born in 1878, Ethel in 1879, and John, the youngest became the most famous actor in the family.

           

The play, Barrymore, written by William Luce with Robert Benedict as John Barrymore and featuring Todd Andrew Ball as Frank, is playing at the Lonny Chapman Theatre.  It is directed by Robert Benedict and produced by Todd Andrew Ball.

            

The play takes place in a once flourishing, now idle, theater in the heart of New York City.  It’s an early evening in the spring of 1942 when the once famous actor arrives at the theater where his intention is to recreate his celebrated performance of Richard III for a group of invited friends and guests.  (This, of course, includes those who are attending the production at the Lonny Chapman Theatre.)             

           

He begins his performance, but seems more interested in wanting to tell his guests about his life.  He side-tracks from the play to talk about the Barrymore Family, his successes, his struggles, and his love life, as well as imbibing alcohol, interspersing at moments to stop and then trying to remember the lines to continue with the play.  Thank goodness for Frank who prompts him from behind a curtain.

           

Robert Benedict gives an exceptionally fine performance.  It is as if one is seeing the long ago deceased actor come to life.  Take note, the date of this play takes place very close to the time of John Barrymore’s death.

           

Barrymore plays Saturdays at 4 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, through November 3, Upstairs    at the Group Rep (on the second floor) of the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood.  For information, go online at www.thegrouprep.com, or call (818) 763-5990.  The Upstairs venue is not handicapped accessible.  Not recommended for minors.

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD by Carol Kaufman Segal

             

Night of the Living Dead, is an independent horror film that was written, directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero and co-written by John Russo in 1968.  Though it was greatly criticized for its gruesome scenes, it eventually earned the praise of critics and is now regarded as a cult classic. 

            Could anyone have imagined such a film being adapted for live stage productions?  But Writer Gus Krieger did just that, and you can see this very eerie production performed by the Group Rep at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood.

            The play opens with Barbara (Kate Faye) and her brother Johnny (Sean Faye) visiting the burial site of their father when they are suddenly attacked by zombies.  Fortunately, Barbara somehow gets away, but unfortunately, her brother does not.  Barbara manages to get to a farmhouse that appears to be abandoned.  She is joined by Ben (Marc Antonio Pritchett) who finds his way to the farmhouse when he runs out of gas. 

            The news is very bleak as it appears that these “living corpses” have overtaken the country.  There is no telling how many there are or how the situation can be solved.  They thrive on the flesh of the living, and those who die, are killed, or bitten by any zombie will come back to life as a zombie as well.  The only way to annihilate them is to destroy their brains.  Ben takes over and, with Barbara’s help, they do their best to block the windows and doors of the house.

            Barbara and Ben discover another problem when they find out there are five other people hiding in the basement of the farmhouse.   They are Harry (Matthew Jayson Cwern), Helen (Lisa McGee Mann), Karen (Kaia Mann) and a young couple, Judy (Cameron Kauffman) and Tom (Ashkhan Aref).  Ben insists that they are better off by coming up out of the basement, and when they decide he might be right, they adhere to his suggestion.  However, this causes more problems for Ben and Barbara when Harry wants to take charge of the situation.  While they try to make plans as to how to escape from the farmhouse, multitudes of walking corpses are everywhere outside, and escaping appears less and less a possibility.  Can they all survive their dreadful situation?  

            Other cast members who perform as broadcasters and interviewers and some as zombies include Ian Runge,  Greg Abbott, Van Boudreaux, Patrick Burke, Paul Cady, Fox Carney, Kyle DeCamp, Larry Eisenberg, Doug Engalla, Lareen Faye, JC Gafford, Doug Haverty, Taylor Martin, Adam Neubauer, Jake Scozzaro, Cardonna Atkins, Donathan Atkins, Stephanie Colet, Julie Davis, Hisato Masuyama, and Troy Whitaker.  Those who perform as zombies can certainly give one chills! 

            The production is directed by Drina Durazo, set design is by Winfield/Durazo, costume design by Angela M. Eads, makeup design by Julia Hapney, and fight choreographer is Marc Antonio Pritchett.  As you can see, it took a great many people to bring this spooky play to the Lonny Chapman Theatre.

            Night of the Living Dead plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, through Nov. 10, with special performances Wednesday, Oct.30 and Thursday, Oct. 31, at 8 PM, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., No. Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.thegrouprep.com, or by phone at (818) 763-5990.                                 

           

             

           

GRUMPY OLD MEN:  The Musical  by Carol Kaufman Segal

           

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical is an all-out fun musical playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.  Making its West Coast Premiere, the musical is a redo of the 1993 romantic comedy, the screenplay written by Mark Steven Johnson with musical score by Alan Silvesltri.  It featured Walter Mathau, Jack Lemon, and Ann-Margret. The theatre production is by Dan Remmes, with music by Neil Berg, lyrics by Nick Meglin.

            

The play takes place in small town Wabasha, Minnesota where most folks know just about everyone who lives there.  Two elderly neighbors, John Gustafson (Mark Jacoby) and Max Goldman (Gregory North), have known each other since, well, like forever, and they have been feuding over 50 years.  Naturally, their rivalry has been caused by the opposite sex.  Ariel (Leslie Stevens), a very beautiful and charming woman moves to Wabasha, and the rivalry between the two men seeking her favors, roils their ire further.

            

We meet a number of town-folks who have called Wabasha their only home.  There is John’s grown-up daughter, Melanie (Ashley Moniz) and his 94-year old father, Grandpa Gustafson (Hal Linden).  Living with Max is his son Jacob (Craig McEldowney) who has been in love with Melanie all the while they were growing up, but never had the nerve to tell her.  Chuck Barrels (Ken Page) owns the town’s bait and apothecary shop, and when his relative, Punky Barrels (Cathy Rigby) is in need, he takes her in to his home.  An outsider shows up quite often in Wabasha, Sandra Snyder (April Nixon) from the IRS, and proves to be a thorn in John Gustafson’s life.  (Will he really lose his home because he is in debt to the IRS?)

There are many other town-folks that we meet throughout this delightful musical. They include Harry the Postman (Peter Allen Vogt), Stan (Joe Abraham), Fran (Heather Jane Rolff),   Karla (Fatima El-Bashiri),  Bo (John Battagliese), Lo (Neil Starkenberg), Tim (Allen Everman), and Unis (Karla J. Franko).  They keep the production moving with their singing, dancing, and just being members of the community.  The fine orchestra plays under the direction of Benet Braun, choreogrphay is by Michele Lynch, scenic design by Michael Carnahan, costume design by Dustin Cross, all under the direction of Matt Lenz.         

            

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical plays Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays, at 2 PM, through October 13. at  the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada.  Tickets are available online at www.lamiradatheatre.com, or by calling the Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310.   

THE SPANISH PRAYER BOOK  by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

The Spanish Prayer Book, written by Angela J. Davis and directed by Lee Sankowitch, is making its world premiere at The Road Theatre on Magnolia.  It is based on real events that occurred following World War II.

            

Michaela Adler (Allison Blaize) is an atheist even though she was the daughter of the late Rabbi Jacob Adler (Allan Wasserman) who recently passed away in London.  She has made a trip there to deal with some rare volumes of Jewish manuscripts that, prior to World War II, belonged to a Jewish Institution in Germany.  These precious, and valuable books, were smuggled out of Germany by Jacob’s Father, Alexander Adler (Carlos Lacamara) before the Germans could destroy them.  He also smuggled out the young, pregnant librarian, Channa Wild (Tiffany Wolf) who was the only living sole still in the Institution when they escaped.

           

Joan Adler (Laura Gardner), has been separated from Michaela’s father for years, and Michaela, herself did not get along with her difficult father. Michaela recently lost her teaching job and is only working part time.  She also has a daughter with some medical issues that has her in financial straits.  Because of her situation, Joan has arranged for the manuscripts to be put up for auction in London to help Michaela, but naturally, they both have to agree to do so.

          

In the process, Michaela meets Julien (Richard-John Seikaly) a Muslim scholar who was her father’s assistant and who is an expert in rare antiques. They become romantically involved which puts Michaela in a quandary since Julien is against putting the manuscripts up for auction and tries, strongly, to convince Michaela not to do so. 

            

The actors are absolutely marvelous in their roles.  Amy Tolsky plays several roles.  However, the night I saw it, she performed only the role of the Law Clerk.  Her other roles, that of the Customs Official and the Auction House Assistant were performed by Nancy Fassett.  Allison Blaize is exceptional to me because I could see real tears in her eyes during moments of her performance.  The splendid scenic design and projections are by Yuki Izumihara.  My dilemma with the play happens when the no-longer-living people from the past show up a number of times during the production, often making it quite difficult to follow.  I suppose I could say it is the structure of the play that does not run as smoothly as the performers themselves.

            

The /Spanish Prayer Book plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through November 23, at The Road on Magnolia, 10747 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.roadtheatre.org, or by calling (818) 761-8838.