HUMAN INTEREST STORY by Carol Kaufman Segal

            

Human Interest Story is making its world premier at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles.  The play was written by Stephen Sachs, a man of immense talent who is not only a playwright, but a director, a producer, and a Co-Artistic Director of the Fountain Theatre.  He also directed this superb production that features a highly talented cast of men and women.  The play takes on situations that we are very much aware of today, loss of jobs, fake news, and homeless people,

            

Andy Kramer (Rob Nagle) has written columns at The Chronicle for twenty years. When the newspaper is taken over by a new owner he, along with others, is given his last day.  When he happens to run into, a homeless woman in the park, he talks her into letting him write a story about her for his final column in the paper, hoping it will save his job.  She agrees and he writes a fictitious story about a homeless woman using the name “Jane Doe” (performed outstandingly by Tanya Alexander).  In reality, the woman is Betty Frazier who earned a master’s degree and was a teacher before falling on hard times.

           

Andy’s article, about Jane Doe facing a destitute existence and promising to kill herself on July 4 due to a heartless civilization, saves Andy’s job.  Because his article arouses the public, multimillionaire Harold Cain (James Harper), who took over The Chronicle, is quick to give him his job back.

           

“Jane Doe” becomes a phenomenon overnight and is interviewed and seen on television stations throughout the country.  Andy Kramer insists on writing Jane Doe’s speeches.  With the success of his newspaper, Harold Cane finds it a good time to run for Mayor of the city.  All of the characters’ personas become changed over the fallout that has affected them and the country by the story of “Jane Doe”.  Will Jane Doe really commit suicide on July 4^th?  Does Andy Kramer begin to respect her abilities?  And what effect does she have over whether or not Harold Cane wins his bid for the Mayor’s office? 

           

Stephen Sachs has written a most interesting and well-thought-out play.  It certainly is a Human Interest Story.  A superb cast brings realism to the production.   Other cast members include Richard Azurdia, Aleisha Force, Matt Kirkwood, and Tarina Pouncy.

 Human Interest Story plays Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, and Mondays at 8 PM, through April 5, at The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles.  Tickets are available online at www.FountainTheatre.com, or by phone at (323) 663-1525.

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