North Coast’s “Murder On The Links” ~Brilliantly Directed and Smartly Overacted.

Of “Murder On The Links”, let me begin by saying that I find it's easier for me to solve Wordle in less than six guesses than I was trying to figuring out ‘the who done-it’ in the latest a la Agatha Christie mystery at the North Coast Rep.  

“Murder On The Links”, now in a world premiere at North Coast Rep., is based on the 1923 novel by Agatha Christie. It is adapted and directed by Steven Dietz and solved by none other than the clever, mustachioed, Belgian Detective Hercule Poirot, master of unsolved mysteries. His associate, Captain Hastings, who is also the narrator, accompanies him at his request. 

The two act- play bounces back and forth with twists and turns at every corner. Twenty characters played by six actors, cleverly disguised by a slight sleight of hand, a quick change of costume, a different hat or wig or cap and of course different accents (French, German and British) makes this fast paced production wiz by faster than one can say Hercule Poirot, and  allows the convoluted mystery to keep everyone guessing.

Jennifer Erdmann, Jessica Mosher, Kim Morgan Dean and Omri Schein

Of course, I’m not going to give anything away, not that I could, but I will tell you that Dietz has assembled a top notch group of actors to pull this caper off.  

Omri Schein as Poirot, in his orange bow tie, orange pocket handkerchief, pocket watch and double breasted suit (Elisa Benzoni), navigates the pack through all the twists and turns in his inimitable style; hands behind his back and constant pacing while thinking out loud, throwing out hints letting Captain Hastings, (Kim Morgan Dean) looking very smug indeed, pick up on them and carry the ball…until he  messes up. And oh, Schein, he’s a perfect as the self -satisfied detective. 

L to R
Jessica Mosher, Matthew Salazar-Thompson, Kim Morgan Dean, Omei Schein, Brian Mackey and Jennifer Erdmann

Jessica Mosher’s foot -prints are all over showing up in different Benzoni costumes and speaking in several accents depending on the clothes she’s wearing. Can she be in two places the same time? This adds yet  another layer to the whole complicated business of solving ‘the murder’ of two men found in fresh graves on the links of the French golf course on the fictional Merlinville-Sur-Mer, "a quiet, little place--but chic!", according to " Poirot.

Brian Mackey, Matthew Salazar-Thompson, Jennifer Erdmann, Kim Morgan Dean, Jessica Mosher

                                                            Omri Schein

And can one actor be more than one character at once? Brian Mackey and Matthew Salazar-Thompson can. Just watch them. Both men are excellent in their respective roles and there are many. As for the women, Jennifer Erdmann and Mosher both take on different characters faster than the eye can see with  costume changes, accents and voila, a different player that takes the whodunit in different directions.

Kim Morgan Dean and Jessica Mosher

Marty Burnett’s set reminded me of the ‘Laugh In’ set with small doors on either side of the stage that can be opened from the back to reveal a person, prop or thing, a few tables/desks, and chairs with paneled windows at the back of the set. Composer/Sound designer Robertson Witmer provided the original sound keeping the audience aware that we were in the middle of a mystery solving adventure with added fog horns, bells and whistles. Matt Novotny designed the spot on lighting and shade, Peter Herman’s wigs are an integral part of the character’s persona and Rachel Hengst’s miniature props are outstanding.

As for solving the crime? Half way through the production, I thought I'd leave that to Poirot. 

And as for Wordle? That remains to solved. 

See you at the theatre. 

Enjoy.

 

When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through May 21

Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach

Tickets: $54-$65

Photo: Aaron Rumley

Phone: (858) 481-1055

Online: northcoastrep.org

SEAN MURRAY IS AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME IN CYGNET’S “PRESENT LAUGHTER”.

We’ve always known that Sean Murray is a fine actor, director, and everything else that goes into being artistic director of a theatre. His role as  Garry Essendine in Noël Coward’s comic play/satire, “Present Laughter”, is the topping on the cake for him. He is an absolute standout with an absolute standout cast of characters as directed by the absolutely fit for the task Rosina Reynolds. (Reynolds also directed Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” some years ago at The North Coast Rep.) 

Like Murray, Coward was an actor, and director. Coward was also a lyricist, producer, egotist. He was a  songwriter and he wrote short stories and novels. He was an entertainer in his later years. Like “Blithe Spirit” the production was put off due to the breakout of World War II. Both were written in 1939 and finally produced in 1941/42. But that never put a damper on his writing and/or sense of humor.

When the show opened in 1942 Coward, who wrote the part of Essendine for himself, of course played Essendine. Oh, to have seen that. But fear not, Murray, as noted earlier has Essendine nailed, as do the other cast members, and there are no less than ten in all; some hiding out in Garry’s guest room, or the kitchen or the office, or behind the piano, or like Garry, in his upstairs bedroom. Tony Cucuzzella designed a  two story(art deco) set that has at least four doors through which someone is either coming or going. The furniture is fashionably early 40’s with a couch in the center of the living room, a piano off to the side which Garry plays off and on, and a large portrait of he himself visible to all.

Sean Murray as Garry Essendine

The lists of who’s who in Garry’s world include his ex -wife, Liz Essendine (a take it in stride self- composed Shana Wride), his producer Henry ( wonderful James Newcomb) and his wife, Joanna (gorgeous Amanda Sitton), his manager Morris (Steven Lone, what can I say but handsome), a young debutante looking for Garry's attention, Daphne (Lindsey Young), who faints at the drop of a dime, a  wannbe playwright, neurotic Roland (Trevor Cruse). 

His household crew consist of his overworked assistant Monica (perfect Melissa Fernandes), his whistling valet Fred (Drew Bradford) and his housekeeper Miss Erikson (a riotous Annie Hinton).

Coward’s 3+ act play, which is highly predictable, isn’t really about the social mores of the rich and famous, upper class or whose sleeping with whom, or the irritations of the high and mighty, as much as as it is about how the characters show up to become what and who they are. And here this cast does it spot on, of this there is no doubt.

Lindsey Young and Sean Murray

As for all the women who drop at Essendine’s feet  or should I say hide in the guest bedroom for fear of running into say, a husband, are all glamorous and dressed to the nines in Elsa Benzoni’s stunning evening gowns or one or of the stylish dressing robes or pajamas belonging to Essendine. They all get a chance at wearing one or the other. As for the others, their dress reflects their station in life as do the various dialects according to their station (Vanessa Dinning).

Amanda Sitton and Sean Murray

Then there are the repeats, as I call them, that sets the stage for more farce, as when Roland, the would be writer, shakes hands with everyone he nearly crushes them in the process, or every time Essendine  goes to open the door he smooths back his hair, or each of the wayward girls stashed in Essendine’s guest bedroom innocently ‘forgot their latch key’, or his valet Fred who does an about face every time he’s doing another task for his boss.

Murray and Melissa Fernandes

All this happens as Garry is getting ready to go to Africa to complete some unfinished work and tour the country. But some business deals at home need attention. And so, begins “Present Laughter”, with all the chaos thrown in boggling the imagination, but painfully funny and smart.

And laughter from the audience and some from the ad libs on stage had me laughing at the shenanigans all the way home and then some. And as far as Murray is concerned, don’t let that wagging finger of his fool you. He’s having a hell of a time. 

Shana Wride and Sean Murray

Lighting designer Colby Freel shows us time lapsing, sound designer, TJ Fucella has the phones and bells in sync, Bonnie Durben, all the props you see on stage and Peter Herman’s always spot on  period wigs and makeup. It’s all there my friends to tickle your funny bone.

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.  

 

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through April 29

Where: Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town State Historic ParK

Tickets: $32 and up

Phone: (619) 337-1525

Photo: Karli Cadel

Online: cygnettheatre.com

TWO WORLD PREMIERES, ONE WEEKEND AT OLD GLOBE THEATRE.

 Imagine, if you will, two world premieres and both at The Old Globe; one in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre and the other on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage of the Conrad Preby’s Theatre Center. It usually doesn’t happen thus, but the overlapping of yours truly seeing them both in one weekend is coincidental.   

“Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play” by Keiko Green is playing through May 7th and is semi -autobiographical, the other “The XIXTH” by Kemp Powers is running through April 23rd, and is more historical/factual based,

“Exotic Deadly Or The MSG Play” is the memory play of a teenager, (Green) dealing with family, friends, prejudices, coming of age, fitting in and her own fantasies.  Directed by Jessica Prudencio and starring Anna Makami as Ami. Ami (Green is Japanese-American) takes us othe roller-coaster ride of our lives dropping in on her anxieties, finding out about her family’s past and working through them, so to speak...the best she can.  It's the  1990's and MSG is highlighting the news. 

Anna Makami as Ami

Life isn't easy for Ami. Her mother, makes her lunch every day filling little bento boxes (they have a strong smell… ‘like farts’) and all she wants is a turkey sandwich or chicken fingers with fries.  She just wants to fit in. Her brother, Kenji, who is supposed  to be the bright star in the family is no help. He’s focused on working on the school’s yearbook for extracurricular credit. 

Anna Makami and Eunice Bae

The drama hidden in the ‘comedy’ is about Ami’s grandfather, who died when she was two.  He invented MSG. What you might ask is MSG? Come-on, you know. It’s SALT, the ingredient in almost all foods.  At the outset, some claimed  it was deadly (Some studies show it might even cause weight gain: damnit)  and for this reason, Ami is filled with guilt, remorse  and shame. She is dead set on redeeming her family name and finding more about her grandfather, ergo the time travel. 

Then, voila a new girl shows up at school, wearing a black leather jacket, big hair, and a smoke dangling from her mouth. Her name, well, no secret, is Exotic Deadly (Eunice Bae). Bae who is an absolute dynamo and energetic beauty who sparkles throughout, debunking Ami’s, or Amy’s, as she now wants to be called, concerns while loving everything Asian. For some reason she feels ordained to be Ami’s best friend even though neither has met before. She plays by a different set of rules. She is positive about all things Asian. The two are direct opposites. Ami is vulnerable when we meet up with her and the other is up front from the outset. 

As time goes on and Ami learns more and more about herself the world view of her family widens, she begins to change her outlook. All this happens in 100 +minutes, too long a sit with no let -up in sight, but there you have it; barely time to catch a breath before another set of zings fly past making it next to impossible for yours truly to keep up. Oh! for those twenty-something years.

The star cast includes:Trevor Salter, Michelangelo Hyeon and James Soel, all playing several characters including Ben Affleck and Matt Damon (hysterical especially in Hahnji Jang’s outrageous and colorful costumes). Yu Shibagaki’s scenery with bold colored carpets and sliding step boxes or staircases is innovative. Cha See’s lighting and Fan Zhang’s sound designs round out the picture.  

Cast of "Exotic Deadly"

See you at the theatre. 

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through May 7

Where: Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, Balboa Park

Tickets: $29 and up

Photo: Richard Soublet II

Phone: (619) 234-5623

Online: theoldglobe.org

                                                        “THE  XIXTH”

Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” 

Take for example the two American Olympic medalists for the 200 meter race(Tommie Smith and  John Carlos) who, in the 1960’s  Olympic games in Mexico City, or the Nineteenth (XIXTH) Olympiad, raised a black glove, wore beads, scarves  and socks,  when the National Anthem was played rather than…well you know the drill. The third, Australian Peter Norman, (Patrick Marron Ball) silver medalist, (he wore a badge for civil rights) were all barred from ever competing in the Olympics and the Olympic Village itself. First Black Gold Medalist, Jessy Owens, advised them against it, but to no avail. 

Fast forward to 2016 when Colin Kaepernick ‘took a knee’ to protest against racial injustice. in September 2017 President Donald trump  said that NFL owners should "fire" players who protest during the national anthem.  Kaepernick became free agent for years robbing him of his livelyhood, humility and personhood. 

Is that insanity or standing up for your rights? 

Martin Luther King advised ‘slow and go’, which in these cases, the waiting game continues even though the Civil Rights Act  (The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing.)

Patrick Marron Ball, Biko Eisen-Martin and Korey Jackson

As in the ‘60’s, racial tensions roared. I remember being in L.A. during the Watts Riots, watching in live color the killing of both John Kennedy and Ted Kennedy and the aftermath of  Martin Luther King’s death. I saw with my own eyes all of the above history in the making. It was and is a sorrow-filled chapter our history as much as it is today with the cold blooded killing of George Floyd and. And, and!

Playwright Kemp Powers  (“One Night in Miami”) lays the story out in every detail. From Norman’s funeral to the buildup and breakup of the two Olympians over what really happened in the race (did one let the other win the Gold?) to the simulation of the race, all the way back to their meager beginnings. 

The play is a fast paced one hundred minutes long deftly directed by Carl Cofield, unwinding back to the present with an overall wonderful cast starring Korey Jackson as easy going Tommy and Michael Early as Jesse Owens and Biko Eisen Martin as the high strung trouble maker John Carlos. Mark Pinter is the racist chief of the International Olympic Committee,  Avery Brundage. 

Riw Rakkulchon designed the well used set, Mika Eubanks, retro costumes, Allen Lee Hughes the effective lighting and David R. Molina the sound. 

To the end that BLM, this country has a long way to go educate its citizens and leaders to equal justice for all not just those with money. ‘Nuff  said. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention that anti-Semitism is also on the rise AGAIN.

Coming in late in the run, I would urge everyone to catch this show. It ends April 23rd. 

When: 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through April 23.

See you at the theatre.

Where: The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park

Tickets: $29 and up

Phone: (619) 234-5623

Photo: Rich Soublet II

Online: theoldglobe.org

       

“The Roommate” at New Village Arts ~A Bit Of An Oddity

The San Diego premier of “The Roommate” at New Village Arts by Jen Silverman and directed by Samantha Ginn, starring Milena (Sellers) Phillips and Kim Strassburger is a bit of an oddity. If anyone out there has ever had a roommate, as once I did, you might find this duo a tad non- conventional and hardly compatible. But wait! The twists and turns in this  95 minute edgy/dark comedy packs some pretty funky ideas with compatible possibilities.

“I guess everybody wants to start over. Just burn it all down and start over.”

Sharon lives in Iowa and Robyn is escaping….ooops resettling from the Bronx, to of all places…Iowa. Why, you might ask from the Bronx (“Isn’t the Bronx dangerous?”) to Iowa? Good question, although the answer is somewhat perplexing: “I lived in Iowa for three years in grad school…I knew I was going to write about Iowa”. (Silverman)

Her abbreviated approach to write such an essay on what she claims is a much overlooked segment of the population, or in her own words, “I wasn’t seeing roles in which older women who were total badasses”, does resonate truth. My one disagreement with the playwright is the overworked word, ‘older’. Fifty is the new thirty and would that I could, I would revisit it again.  

Sharon (Milena (Sellers) Phillips) and Robyn (Kim Strassburger)  both need a restart. Both are looking for change, both have children (sight unseen) that undervalue their mother roles in their lives and both have secrets that will be revealed over the course of the play.

We first meet up with Sharon and Robyn, Robyn is unloading boxes of her

stuff from her car to Sharon’s front porch (“Is your porch safe?” “Do you lock your doors?”). It is here we find out that Robyn is a vegan, drinks Almond milk, smokes (oops Sharon forgot to ask about that) pot, writes slam poetry, was a potter who made voodoo looking dolls, her grandmother was from Iowa and she’s gay! 

On the other side of the coin, Sharon belongs to a book club or reading group, is a mother, is a retired wife (her husband left her), has a little night -cap now and then as opposed to smoking medicinal herbs a la Robyn’s style. The good news for Sharon is that she is more accepting to try new things than Robyn.

 Moving along, we catch the both of them sharing a joint, practicing a little con job on Sharon’s friends (you’ll have to see the play to get that one) and sharing adult children stories. 

Sharon has more curiosity about Robyn than vice-versa, ergo she learns more about her roommate’s dark past than her roommate is willing to share simply by snooping around Robyn’s ‘things’. 

The story takes some bizarre twists and turns, some believable -some off the wall especially Sharon’s willingness to go along and even embrace some of Robyn’s illegal activities, once she learns of them.

“The play is often funny,” Silverman says, “but don’t think of it as pure comedy. The humor comes from a dark and often lonely place, which keeps Sharon’s escalating choices from feeling like absurdist flourishes.” 

 The good news is that both gals are up to the task. Phillips has the ‘deer in the headlights look most of the time, but with a mischievous smile from ear to ear. Strassburger is cool, calm and collected, always willing to let her mate try something new to break open her closed down self. 

Jen Silverman’s “The Roommate” as directed by Samantha Ginn (making her mainstage directing debut) is now playing through April 23rd.   This set of roommates isn’t quite as cut and dry as my ‘roommate’ experience or as Ginn’s as she reveals in program notes. Ginn, who keeps the pace fast and furious, barely allows some of the reveals time to sink in. 

Kim Strassburger and Milena (Sellers) Phillips

Two that came to mind was how easy it was to scam elders, a shameful crime that leaves them high, dry and broke. And how the use of drugs, so readily available, as used as a conduit for friendship. Seriously, it did not make for a good  ending for Sharon, or so that was the thought as I exited the theatre. 

Both women do their best with the material given them. Both were able to bring out the humor, the unfulfilled dreams, the loneliness, the ‘other’ and the willingness to try to make it work for them. They also push the agenda forward with what the playwright had in mind, to make us think, to add some odd- ball humor and excellent acting and credibility.

“The Golden Girls” they are  not. More like the “Odd Couple”. But even then, it’s less about the comedy, more about the bizarre; the strangeness of it, the discovering of self. It does make one think.

Costumes designed by Katrina Deroche fit in with the time frame of contemporary. Annelise Salazar designed the effective lighting, Christopher Scott Murrillo designed the detailed set and Andrea Moriarty, props.

See you at the theatre.

Enjoy!  

When: 2 p.m. Wednesdays; 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through April 23

Where: New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad

Tickets: $27-$50

Phone: (760) 433-3245

Photo: Daren Scott

Online: newvillagearts.org