NOWHERE ON THE BORDER by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

The Road on Magnolia is presenting a newly revised and re-written version of a play, Nowhere On The Border by Carlos Lacamara, directed by Stewart J. Zully.  The subject is extremely relevant today as it is a retrospect of the dramas that people endured in order to cross the borders into the United States and still do.

           

Roberto (Jonathan Nichols) is waiting around in a desert area to meet his daughter Pilar (Natalie Llerena) near the border in Arizona.  He found out that she had paid someone to get her across to Arizona where her husband has been for three years.  Gary (Chet Grissom) happens to be patrolling the area, and upon seeing Roberto, is very suspicious of him.  Gary doesn’t believe him when he tells him why he is hanging around in the area and calls for the Border Patrol               

            

Pilar had met with Don Rey (Thom Rivera) and paid him to make arrangements for her to travel to Arizona with a fellow traveler, Jesus (Leandro Cano), and the leader, extremely inadequate Montoya (Diana Delacruz).  Meanwhile, during the wait for the Border Patrol to arrive, the scenes are interspersed between Gary and Roberto and the three travelers on their hazardous trip.

            

With the passing of time, Gary and Roberto discover that they have both lived through similar situations during their lives.  The more Gary gets to know more about Roberto, the more he realizes he likes him.  In each segment with them, the two men find they have a lot in common and gradually become friendly with one another.  When the play reverts to the segments with the travelers, their situation becomes more and more challenging, and it is questionable when and if they will make it to their destination.  Guitarist Mackenzie Redvers Bryce performs soothing melodic music between the scenes.

            

Much of the time, I felt breathless through some of the scenes as I watched this production, not the easiest, but worth every minute of it.  I left the theatre with so much feeling for the marvelous performances by the entire cast.  The set design by Paul Dufresne, constructed by Red Colegrove, and the lighting design by Derrick McDonald added to its strength.

           

Nowhere on the Border plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM, at The Road on Magnolia, located at 10747 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.roadtheatre.org, or by phone at (818) 761-8838.

           

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SUNDAY DINNER by Carol Kaufman Segal

           

Theatre 40, in Beverly Hills, is presenting the world premiere of Sunday Dinner, the latest play written by well-known playwright Tony Blake who also directs the very talented cast.  It takes place in the Bronx at the home of the Matera Family (lovely set by Jeff G. Rack).

Michael Matera (James Tabeek) is a young priest in the Chicago Archdiocese who comes home following the death of his grandfather.  A family gathering is planned for a Sunday dinner.  Very shortly after Michael arrives, his father Eddy (John Combs) corners him in order to make a confession to him, hoping to receive absolution from his son.  Eddy is a retired blue-collar worker, and confesses to Michael that he has committed a misdeed that will, undoubtedly, affect the rest of the family.  Well, in reality, it is more likely a crime.  Eddy wants his son to grant him absolution and is appalled by his refusal to do so.  However, Michael has his reasons for his refusal.

      

 Eddy’s wife Rose (Sharron Shayne) and relative Margaret (Michele Schultz) are busy cooking and setting up for the dinner.   Those who will be arriving for the Sunday dinner are Richie (Kevin Linehan) Michael’s older brother, a cousin Flip (Dennis Hadley), and Richie’s former wife, Diane (Meghan Lloyd).

           

Before everyone arrives, we learn that Michael also has secrets that he has not revealed to his family.  He has, at last, admitted to himself that he is gay, but no one in his family has ever suspected it, and he has not yet let them know that he has given up the priesthood (his good reason for denying his father’s request).  Michael’s life is made more difficult because he will have to confront his former sister-in-law with whom he became involved in the past and who still has a crush on him.  This Sunday can certainly be a difficult day for him.

            

At last, when everyone sits down to Sunday Dinner, we soon discover that the Matera family is burdened with many secrets which perpetrates the fact that they are, undoubtedly, an extremely dysfunctional family.  When all is revealed at the Sunday Dinner, will the members of this family be able to understand each other and their problems, or will the Matera Family be destroyed?  

            

The answer can be found at Theatre 40 where Sunday Dinner is playing Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM through February 16.  The theatre is located in the Reuben Cordova Theatre, 241 S. Moreno Dr., Beverly Hills.  For reservations, call (310) 364-0535, or for tickets, go online at www.theatre40.org.

THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

The Little Match Girl is a short story written by Christian Anderson in 1845.  Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood is featuring an adaptation of Anderson’s tale by Elizabeth Suzanne, directed by Tor Brown and featuring a cast of fifteen actors. 

           

The Little Match Girl is a story about a little girl, Annelise, (Ella Grace Bergeron) who lives in poverty with an abusive father (Raymond Donahey).  On New Year’s Eve, he sends her out in the cold, wintry weather to sell matches. The story follows Annalise as she spends the dreary night wandering the streets and the adventures she encounters.  It all opens her eyes to life, the suffering and the blessings of giving, and in the end, it is all about love and kindness.

            

The Little Match Girl is the fourth production of the eighth season of the Loft Ensemble.  It was quite an undertaking due to the very large cast who make up the people Annalise meets in her journey.  They include Barbera Ann Howard (Grandmother), Britt Crisp (Gisela), Paul Brodo (Vilhelm), Benjamin Shuman (Henrik), Ben Anderson (Jantzen), Jessica Wells (Petra), Ignacio Navarro (Stefan), Aaron Castle (Police Officer), Emma Gini (Incheline/Ensemble), Lemon Baardsen (Snow Queen/Ensemble), Maysa Sweeten (Shepherdess/Ensemble), Matthew Monaco (Tin Soldier/Ensemble), and Thatcher Boyd (Chimney Sweep/Ensemble). 

            

The scenic design is by Madylin Durrie, lighting design by Elza Hofeld, sound design by Tor Brown, costume design by Linda Muggeridge and Bree Pavey, choreography by La’Vel Stacy, and Jared Pugh is the Music Director.

            

The Little Match Girl plays Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 7 PM, through February 16, at the Loft Ensemble, 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood.  Tickets are available online at www.loftensemble.org, or by phone at (818) 452-3153.