Talking With ...
If you saw the excellent article in the Gazette's November 03
edition, you already know what happened when the Long Beach
Playhouse offered its facilities to outside theater groups. The
response was staggering!
In less than two weeks, LBP's upstairs stage was booked for
eight productions by seven different companies. Officially dubbed
"The Collaborative in the Studio Theatre," this new series opened
last weekend with a production by The Long Beach Repertory Theatre.
"Talking With...," by playwright Jane Martin, is directed by
Frederick Ponzlov. As the founder of LBRT, Ponzlov follows the
method set forth by renowned New York dramatist, Sanford Meisner.
With a minimal set, lighting by Andrew Vonderschmitt, and costumes
by Annemarie Allen, the focus is strictly on the acting.
"Talking With..." features ten diverse cameos by well-trained
female actors who range in age from 21 to 84. Collectively, their
portrayals are first rate as, one by one, each character shares her
intimate story directly to the audience. Most of the monologues are
poignant, secret confessions that are deeply heart-felt. Even those
that are blatant comedy have painful subtexts.
Nobody has ever seen the play's illustrious/mysterious
playwright; but whoever Martin is, he/she certainly understands the
human condition with all of its unspoken fears, longings,
heart-breaks and anxieties. Here's a brief sampling of the personal
conversations you'll have during Long Beach Repertory Theatre's
first production.
Teresa Ganzel does an outstanding job of relating the unspoken
concerns that go through her mind in the "Fifteen Minutes"
before she goes on stage. CarolAnne Johnson is completely
convincing as a former "Rodeo" star who is ticked off by the way
this honest, old-time event has been transformed into a slick
commercial enterprise.
In "Clear Glass Marbles," Afsaneh Hamedani offers a heart-rending
portrayal of a woman who watches helplessly, as her mother slowly
dies, one day (and one marble) at a time. Deborah Cartwright will
tear your heart out as an adult wife who covers herself with
"Scraps" and lives a make-believe life in the land of Oz.
Kit Breckenridge deserves an Oscar for her delivery of a lonely
woman who was incapable of feeling anything at all until "Marks"
from a brutal stabbing brought her to life; and Sheryl Scialia gives
an outrageous "Audition" that will turn some people on, while others
are completely grossed out.
Geraldine Uy portrays a woman about to give birth to a "Dragon,"
after ignoring her doctor's advice to have an abortion because the
fetus is defective; and Linda Wheatcroft Lee is terrific as a poor
Southern snake "Handler" who no longer believes in God.
"Talking With..." winds up with Shirley Marchant's soulful
portrayal of some homeless, demented person who wants to live at
McDonalds and eat "French Fries"; followed by Katherine McKalip's
tender interpretation of a lonely widow who finds comfort at night
in the light emitted from a room full of "Lamps."
If you're starved for mature, character-driven dialogue that
epitomizes the climate and torment of contemporary life, call
(562) 494-1014 or go on line at www.lbplayhouse.org. "Talking
With..." continues at the Long Beach Playhouse, 5021 E. Anaheim near
Clark, across from the Recreation golf course. Performances take
place in the Studio Theatre, 8 pm, Friday-Saturday.