A Theatre Update
For a long time I labored under an intoxicating Barrymore dream – and no, I don’t mean dreams about Drew Barrymore although she has turned up in a reverie or two. No, I mean the dream of being the actor who gets the masses charged up about the live theatre again. I have spent most of my 34 years acting in one play after another, with only an occasional hiatus, the longest one lasting two years (2001-2003).
In 2003, Eva Kendrick dragooned me into auditioning for her musical comedy, Le Bistro Café. The show ran in North Hollywood, where it was my pleasure to perform opposite Katherine Lorien (we are seen at left).
Later I did a couple of guest appearances at one L.A.’s oldest theatre companies, Company of Angels, but did not formally join the company until this year. They lease a building in the Silverlake neighborhood and usually put up good plays, and there are some very talented people there trying to do some good theatre in movietown.
Thus, I would like to plug our current production, a revival of Larry Kramer’s AIDS chronicle, The Normal Heart. It’s been up for four weeks, and we run through July 16. Come on down and see us; part of your ticket price benefits Project Angel Food.
We got a lukewarm review in Backstage West from a writer who feels the play is dated, but liked the actors and even gave a nice mention to your humble correspondent.
Recently, a most unpleasant change in my personal life has left me with some unanticipated free time, and I have filled some of it by accepting a lead role in the Angels’ next production, an original play by Salon.com’s Cintra Wilson (shown at left), a dark sex comedy entitled XXX Love Act. Don’t worry, I am keeping my clothes on.
The play opens July 29 and I hope to see you there. Really. Please come out . There is a commonplace around here that “Los Angeles theatre” is an oxymoronic concept, and very few people seem to think that this is a choice. The talent and the resources are here for a remarkable theatre scene; it is a matter of application, and I do not believe an actor necessarily must choose between making a living and doing plays, even if it is once in a while. If you relish the live theatre, go to the chapel and do your service.
June 22nd, 2005 at 5:47 pm
A, this read like a conventional blog. I’m not complaining. In fact, I really enjoyed this, because, after all, I’m pretty dang nosy. My son’s godfather lives in Silverlake, and we’re overdue to take the Southwest cattle car from Sacramento to Burbank to visit, so I may just get the chance to see your play. Congrats on getting a nice mention in an otherwise lukewarm review.
June 22nd, 2005 at 5:55 pm
A, just because I liked this more “conventional” blog doesn’t mean I didn’t like your other blogs. Just wanted to set the record straight. (The fact that I felt the need to do so may indicate that I’ve spent too much time on Pearl Soup.)
June 23rd, 2005 at 10:40 am
Hal, I know what you mean about that PearlSoup shyness. Nothing to worry abot here, my man.