The Seagull Takes Wing at The Odyssey

Posted on by Diversions LA

The Seagull Takes Wing at The Odyssey by Genie Davis

The Seagull, one of Chekhov’s most popular plays, is here in Los Angeles at The Odyssey Theatre in an extended run through February 23rd. The production is a don’t-miss directed by Chekhov expert and actor Bruce Katzman, author of Secrets of Chekhov, and stars Sasha Alexander of Rizzoli and Isles, NCIS, and Shameless as Arkadina, and James Tupper of Revenge, Big Little Lies, Grey’s Anatomy, Men in Trees,  FBI, and The Irrational, as Trigorin. The exciting production offers a timeless performance about chasing love and mourning its passing.

Stay tuned for a review of this production, but we were delighted to speak with the director and stars. Asked why The Seagull is such a special play, Katzman explained “The play is 126 years old yet it is unbelievably modern. Chekhov had his finger on the pulse of the human heart, and the characters in The Seagull might very well be people you read about in the gossip columns of today in New York or Los Angeles. The lure of celebrity, the dreams of a country girl who wants to be famous, the frustration of a son who can’t compete with his mother’s stardom and can’t find his own artistic path, the futile pursuit of love in all the wrong places! Audiences still laugh and cry with recognition. They see themselves, their neighbors and their family in this play.”

Katzman adds that he wants audiences to know the play and this production are “100% accessible. The name of Chekov, like the name of Shakespeare, sometimes intimidates modern theatre-goers and they’re afraid they won’t understand what’s going on, or that hte language will be difficult, or the story will go over their heads. But in our production you understand everything. And it’s a brisk two hours! We have not cut anything, but it is not a boring and tedious ‘period piece.’ It is fun!” he enthuses.

According to Katzman, he’s experienced “two great pleasures” in directing this production. “First, to assemble a cast of newcomers and oldtimers who have blended themselves into a beautiful ensemble; and having earned the trust of that ensemble, that they would help me realize my vision of the play. The great payoff has been to witness audiences night after night sit in utter silence to see the story unfold. You can hear a pin drop most of the time, except when they are howling with laughter! Perfect Chekhov.”

Lead actress Sasha Alexander says what inspires her most about the production and her role in it is the fact that she has always wanted to be a part of The Seagull. “I loved meeting Bruce and James initially, we got along well and I felt safe to go on this journey with them. I have enjoyed James’ work for years and with Bruce’s Chekhov expertise, I knew they would be the right team to dive into this with. They have assembled a wonderful cast, so many young talents, and Bruce’s interpretation of the play has made it contemporary and accessible to a wide range of audience.”

Co-star James Tupper concurs and adds “I’m inspired by the level of writing. The cast who are each super in their own way — and by the chocolate for sale at the Odyssey concession.  Salted Caramel Chocolate feels a lot like love,” he laughs.

Alexander attests that she loves her role as Arkadina. “She is a complicated woman who swings many ways throughout the play, emotionally. But she is tough and smart and a survivor. I like that. That’s what inspires me the most – the challenge of the role and just getting to perform this classic with so many beautiful artists.”

She finds that Arkadina is a challenging role on many levels. “The narcissism, trauma and performative parts of her character are swinging constantly, making it a truly diffcult experience every time we perform the play. But the relationship she has with her lover, Trigorin, her son, and her brother are complicated and rich. So many things to discover and play with. I love doing it and it is never the same, which is so inspiring and satisfying. It’s been one of the most wonderful acting experiencesof my life.”

Tupper describes his favorite part of the play as “The fight scene Sasha and I have in the middle of the play.  Don’t worry, it’s very funny and I think every married couple might relate. Also it’s fun to pretend to be a very famous person, even if it’s only for two hours, four times a week.”

Director Bruce Katzman’s full cast includes Sasha Alexander, James Tupper, Parker Sack, Cece Kelly, Carlos Carrasco, Carolyn Crotty, Joe Hulser, Will Dixon, Brianna Bryan, Matthew Hartley, Lukas Jann, and Hannah May Howard. The production is co-produced by Katzman, Tupper, and Crotty.

Extended through Feb. 23, the remaining performances are Thursdays Feb. 13; Feb. 20; Fridays Feb. 14; Feb. 21, Saturdays
Feb. 15; Feb. 22, and Sunday afternoons Feb. 16; Feb.23.  Those attending can stay for post-show Talkbacks on February 23rd.
The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles.

  • Genie Davis; photos provided by the production.

Bad Jews = Great Performances at the Odyssey

Posted on by Diversions LA

280x415-bad_jews

Through July 1st at the Odyssey, Bad Jews brings audiences dark humor, fast wit, and dialog so smart it would make Aaron Sorkin weep. Created by Joshua Harmon, the play introduces opinionated Daphna/Diana Feygenbaum, a college student donning the mantle of her Jewishness with a passion. In town for the funeral of her grandfather, a Holocaust survivor, Daphna (Jeanette Deutsch) is  staying with cousins Liam and Jonah Haber (Noah James and Austin Rogers), in a luxe condo purchased by their parents.

30571724_1907031379349597_803850378381623296_o

Daphna doesn’t care for their seemingly indolent acceptance of the luxurious residence, but she’s more focused on finding and keeping her grandfather’s chai, which he’d hidden even during his incarceration in a concentration camp.

30442737_1907030936016308_7013801793322745856_o

What Daphna doesn’t know can hurt her – and everyone around her – Liam already has the chai and plans to gift it to his non-Jewish fiancee.  And so the war of the words begins.

30265070_1907031326016269_7171807588533665792_o

Liam takes the secular side, Daphna the Jewish ideological trope, while Liam’s brother Jonah and fiancee Melody (Lila Hood) can only duck the verbal missiles.

Funny, poignant, bitter, biting, and intensely relatable, the richly human, insanely provocative battle of the chai also brings home the horrors of the Holocaust, the importance of loyalty, the sting of betrayal, and the power of words.

30442756_1907030946016307_5575572075168399360_o

Strong performances by all four cast members, an evocative set, and tight direction throughout the play’s 90-minute run time makes this a gem.

  • Genie Davis; photos: courtesy of the Odyssey.

Two Hander for the Ages: Freud’s Last Session at the Odyssey

Posted on by Diversions LA

FREUD_6217

Through March 4th at the Odyssey Theatre, Mark St. Germain’s two- character play, Freud’s Last Session sets two iconic figures side by side. And once so positioned, they debate, spar, agree, disagree, and passionately digress in a strong acting tour de force.

FREUD_6245

 

Martin Rayner as Sigmund Freud and Martyn Stanbridge as C.S. Lewis both convey their characters needs, wants, desires, and beliefs, bringing to life a profound 90 minutes of dialog that takes place on the day that England enters World War II.

Set in Freud’s convivial study, Lewis is a guest, invited to debate the existence of God with Freud. Just who has the more twisty and tenacious psychological profile, or the more defiant view of life, death, and war is the shifting point of the dialogue.

FREUD_6154

Rayner’s Freud is charming and witty, and a touch explosive. But then who wouldn’t be, contemplating suicide as a way to escape the ravages of oral cancer. Stanbridge’s Lewis is more even keel, but falls into a rhythm of sparring with Freud, enjoying the music of language as much as the arguments themselves may frustrate him.

The central crux of their disagreements arise around Lewis’ recent conversion to the Anglican faith, while Freud, as the father of psychoanalysis, is adamant that such a conversion is foolishness and blissfully unaware of his own psychological foibles. The debate is interrupted by radio announcements and music, the threat of German bombs, an off-stage barking dog, and the death-rattle coughs of Freud.

FREUD_6187

Mostly they talk, and under lesser hands the dialogue might lag. With Rayner and Stanbridge, however, there is so much life and vibrance to the performances – they simply embody their characters and make them into people we want to meet and get to know – that we’re compelled to listen and keep doing so.

Tense and insightful, no matters debated here are resolved neatly; rather the human condition, and a very human stubborn adherence to ones beliefs, are the meaty heart of this two-man play.

The Odyssey is located at 2055 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025. For more information visit www.odysseytheatre.com or call (310) 477-2055 

Waiting for Grace: Looking for Love at the Odyssey

Posted on by Diversions LA

grace-1

Above, actress and writer Sharon Sharth.

In the late ’70s, Joni Mitchell sang in the transcendent Hejira, “I know, no one’s going to show me everything/We all come and go unknown/Each so deep and superficial/ Between the forceps and the stone.”

 

In some inchoate but poignant way Sharon Sharth’s semi-autobiographical play, Waiting for Grace, reminded me of that song. While the play is often brilliantly funny, it’s also moving; the search for love and marriage by a no-longer-young, yet still attractive actress is both personal and universal, filled with longing and delight, despair and hope.

Directed by Lee Costello, the play is essentially a one-woman show, albeit ably supported by a brilliant cast playing various roles as Grace’s boyfriends, therapists, and parents.

grace-3

The plot is simple: Grace (Sharth herself, a burning spark both searing and sexy) long focused on her career, now wants marriage and motherhood, but cannot find a man able to provide her with a ring or a child. Some are too clingy, some angry, some distant – all are played by the chameleon Jeff LeBeau. Therapist, parents, and relationship counselor all come into play trying to advise her, until at last she meets “the one,” David (Todd Babcock).

grace-2

Her dream man isn’t perfect either, and in fact, until the last moments, the audience is never sure that even David will prove worthy of Grace’s somewhat neurotic love.

The play is warm and affectionate overall, with acerbic and bittersweet asides. The weakest link is when Grace tries to have a child with David, but that’s a quibble. The script is sharp, witty, powerful, and brave.

grace-4

Sharth takes on the pain of looking for love (in all the wrong places and with all the wrong guys), aging, feminism, the meaning of marriage — and comes up with the only conclusion that can possible be reached: waiting for grace isn’t easy, but in the end, she/it can be found.

Quoting Mitchell again, “I’m traveling in some vehicle/I’m sitting in some cafe/ A defector from the petty wars/Until love sucks me back that way.”

Running through December 11th, don’t miss the chance to find Grace.

  • Genie Davis; Photos: courtesy of the Odyssey