Just 45 Minutes From Broadway
(EXTENDED through April 25, 2010)
Just 45 Minutes From Broadway is a new play by Henry Jaglom playing at the Edgemar Theatre in Santa Monica. At the heart of the play is the Isaac family who had successful careers as actors. They consider other people, not in “the business,” as “civilians.”
Patriarch George, [aka Gisha] (Jack Heller), in his youth, was a third-generation star of the Yiddish theatre. As he matured, he became a successful star on the English-speaking stage. George’s wife, Vivien Cooper, was also a successful actress, but that was in the past. Now the two of them mostly stay at home where Vivien’s brother Larry Cooper (David Proval) is temporarily residing with them as he, too is an actor and has a minor role in a production of Guys and Dolls nearby. Another member of the household is a boarder that the Isaacs have taken in to help make ends meet in these financially stressed times, Sally Brooks (Harriet Schock), a former character actress no longer able to get work. These times are tough for all of them.
Suddenly the family grows again by one, when daughter Pandora [aka Panda] (Tanna Frederick) returns home after a bitter break-up with her boyfriend. Vivien explains that that’s what happens when you get involved with a “civilian.” The Isaacs older daughter, Betsy (Julie Davis) informs the family that she is has recently become engaged and is coming home with her fiancé, Jimmy Halkin (David Garver), in order for them to meet one another. Jimmy is a staid business man and Betsy warns him that her family is “weird.” Though Betsy is six years older than Panda, and they obviously love one another, there is a sibling rivalry between the two sisters. Panda is very happy in her family’s environment, whereas Betsy believes that the members of her family are “always on stage.” She wasn’t really happy at home, feeling as though her life had been a theatrical event, and she was content to leave it. But Jimmy doesn’t find her family eccentric at all. In fact, he finds them most charming and this upsets Betsy to no end. When Betsy tells the family of plans that she has made for them (without their knowledge), they become offended and refuse her proposal. Becoming upset, Betsy realizes that she cannot make a difference or change them and runs out, only to leave Jimmy with the more down-to-earth Panda, to whom he had already begun to feel was the right girl for him.
Jaglom has done a superb job creating his characters, and the actors do an equal job in presenting them under the astute direction of Gary Imhoff. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters, the plot, the humor and the entire production. However, I did feel that the play was a bit lengthy and could be shortened without losing any of its charm.
Show times for Just 45 Minutes From Broadway are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 5 p.m., dark Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 26-29), closing Dec. 20.
Edgemar Theatre
Edgemar Center For the Arts
2427 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA
For reservations: (310) 392-7327
online at www.edgemarcenter.org