Goodbye, Louie...Hello!
Goodbye, Louie...Hello! takes place in Louis Berns' (Alan Freean) luxurious apartment on Central Park West (beautiful set by Jeff G. Rack). His son Scott (Paul Denniston) and daughter Aimie Berns Michaels (Maria Kress) live nearby; his best friend Benjamin "Benjy" Gordon (Steve Franken) and he spend a great deal of time together reminiscing and playing gin rummy. Such a beautiful apartment; so why is Louie packing up to move to a retirement home in Arizona where he doesn't know a soul? Naturally, his children are very upset and are trying to talk him out of leaving all of his memories and everyone he knows behind?
In their heyday, Louie and Benjy were famous comedians. Louie went on to fame and fortune with a remarkable career in nightclubs, films, Broadway and his own long running television series. Benjy's career, unfortunately, fell by the wayside, but the two remained fastidious friends for all of the years. Throughout the play there is great deal of humor performed with perfection by these two talented veterans of show business. And when it comes to the serious moments in the plot, they are still in top form. Instances between father Louie and son Scott are riddled with friction , and these times prove the talent, not only of Freeman, but of Paul Denniston who truly lives his character.
As the plot progresses, and Scott's friend David (Roy Vongtama) comes to do an interview with Louie, we learn what Louie's real motivation is for "running away." Memories of his past, and how it is revealed, will affect his family and his relationship with his best friend.
Goodbye, Louie...Hello!, written by Allen Manings, boasts a superb cast under the direction of John Gallogly. It plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 2 PM, through May 8, 2011, at Theatre West, located at 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West Hollywood (buy close to North Hollywood, Universal City and Studio City. For reservations call (323) 851-7977, or go online at www.theatrewest.org. Recommended.