by Shirley Lorraine

A different viewpoint on death and humor

Few comedies open with a beating and a hanging. The Santa Paula Theater Center’s “Hangmen” by Irishman Martin McDonagh does. From there the comedy is in the hands and ears of the receivers (you, the audience).

Nominated for four Tony awards and recipient of a Laurence Olivier Award in 2003, the play takes on human foibles and the urge to compete, even in areas where competition is uncommon.

The Irish satire is set in 1965, in an old pub owned and operated by Harry, (Richard Kuhlman) well known as the second-best hangman in the country. The death penalty has just been abolished in the United Kingdom and poor Harry is now out of a job. Still, he competes for bragging rights with Pierrepoint (John Webber), acknowledged as the number one hangman. Harry’s cronies (Bill Walthall, Scot Blanchard and Donnie Stroud) solidly back him up, but only as far as a pack of drunken sods who are continually provided with pints of drink can do.

A young, inexperienced journalist (Eric Umali) meets with Harry to get his side of the story. How does he feel being out of a job? While Harry maintains he will not comment, eventually he does, and then some.

Harry’s wife Alice (Jolyn Johnson) and teen daughter Shirley (Emily Redman Hall) do most of the bar duty. Jeff Ham makes appearances as several characters.

Harry’s assistant, Syd (Derek Petropolis), would love to take Harry’s attitude of superiority down a peg and plots with Mooney (James James), a connivingly menacing stranger. Mooney’s actual intent is unclear. Insisting he is menacing, not creepy, Mooney intrigues Shirley into meeting him elsewhere, whereupon she disappears for a period, causing Harry and Alice a great deal of angst. Mooney ultimately taunts the group into placing him in a noose which turns deadly as the group attempts to hide this action from the inspectors.

The highly competent cast carries off their well-rehearsed Irish accents beautifully. So well, in fact, that the accents, combined with unfamiliar Brit-speak language, created a challenge (for me, at least) to follow and find the humor. Credit is given to Erin De Horta as dialect coach.

The detailed interior pub set is impressive. Two 1960’s clothed dancers (presumably a directorial addition) assist with minor scene changes, providing a tinge of the aura of the era. The dancers are Martha Benevides and Keke Navarro.

Artistic Director Jessi May Stevenson has assembled a cast of talents who perform admirably. Action is tight and natural.

While the play may have fared well in the United Kingdom, I personally did not find it to be the comedy I’d hoped for in this “all comedy” SPTC season. Brit humor can be an acquired taste. There was sporadic laughter at specific well-timed lines, However, the underlying premise is one that is not inherently funny, in my opinion. Perhaps I just needed a pint or two.

Hangmen continues through May 12, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. www.santapaulatheatercenter.org or (805)525-4645.

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Anyone But You – Netflix

Bea (Sydney Sweeney) met Ben (Glen Powell) when trying to use the restroom at a cafe. The barista told Bea to go to the end of the line, but she felt she couldn’t wait and tried desperately to talk her way into getting the bathroom key. Ben, who was next to be served, overheard the scenario and helped her by posing as her husband, getting her the key immediately as well as buying her a drink and holding her coat while his “wife” used the restroom.

Feeling an immediate connection, they went on a date and spent the evening talking eventually just falling asleep in each others arms. When Bea woke in the morning, she snuck out and called her sister to share her great date story, but when questioned by her sister why she left she thought she needed to go back. Ben’s best friend Pete (GaTa) had stopped by and poked fun at Ben regarding the date saying it seemed he was in love, so Ben’s ego replied by saying Bea was a mess. Unfortunately Ben had no idea Bea was outside the apartment and she quickly fled.

Fast forward six months later and Ben and Pete went to a club to meet up with Pete’s little sister Claudia (Alexandra Shipp), who Ben was also close to, to meet her girlfriend Halle (Hadley Robinson). Halle called out to the crowd to introduce her sister to Ben and to both of their surprise it was Bea. Ben had numerous snarky comments regarding “walking out” scenarios, and Bea was quick to return fire recalling what Ben had said to Pete that morning.

Claudia and Halle decided to get married in Sydney, Australia, and Ben and Bea just happened to be on the same flight, though Ben was in first class and Bea was in coach. It was decided that everyone would stay at Pete’s parents’ house, which was also the wedding location. Claudia’s parents had a plan to divert the tension with Ben and Bea by inviting Ben’s ex-girlfriend Margaret who he had been quite heartbroken over. Halle’s parents flew Bea’s ex-boyfriend Jonathan to the wedding in hopes they would rekindle their relationship as they were very fond of Jonathan.

Bea convinced Ben that for each of them to avoid the parent traps that had been set, they should act as if they were together. They spent the next few days doing ridiculously romantic things to convince everyone else they were together. While having a pre-wedding dinner on a yacht, one of their plans backfired while playing Titanic when Bea fell into the sea, but Ben jumped right in after her. While floating on a buoy waiting to be rescued by the coast guard, they decided to call a truce and ended up sleeping together that night. This time Ben snuck out thinking Bea might regret it.

Ben heard Claudia and Halle discussing calling off the wedding because of all the drama, so Ben asked Bea to pretend to be together one last time to save the wedding. At the reception Margaret kissed Ben, but to his own surprise was disinterested. Unfortunately Bea saw them from across the room and left the reception. Ben left to go after Bea, but she had already jumped in a taxi.

Ben said wasn’t interested in Margaret and that she kissed him, so they told Ben he had to go after Bea. When Ben asked Halle and Claudia where Bea had gone they said she went people watching and Ben knew exactly where she had gone. So Ben decided to take a leap of faith and jumped on the cliff into the ocean to again be rescued and find Bea to tell her how he truly felt.

For a funny, feel good rom-com, “Anyone But You” delivers with great comedy charisma from the whole cast.

Runtime: 1h 43m

by Shirley Lorraine

“Deer” Delves Deep in Ojai

Prepare to be amazed, analyzed and shocked at the current offering of the Ojai Art Center Theater. Deer, by Aaron Mark, directed by David Henderson is billed as “A bloody comedy where love and hate collide.” It is a journey many will identify with, shed tears over, laugh about, cheer on and be repelled by all at once. It is quite a full evening and well worth it. This one pulls out all the stops and then some.

The play opens with a couple who have been married a long time out on a journey to their cabin in the mountains for a week of respite and rediscovery. Their daughter has recently moved along with her life, leaving them alone. What should be a relaxing week away at their hideaway in the Poconos quickly becomes the stuff of nightmares.

The drive to the cabin is filled with a steady stream of chatter from husband Ken (Taylor Kasch) which is received by resolute and angry blank stares by wife Cynthia (Cynthia Killion). They are each coping with the grief of an empty house and facing a future of potentially meaningless existence.

In the dark of night on the lonely country road, driver Cyn hits a deer. Convinced that the poor (clearly dead) animal can be revived, she insists on taking it to the cabin to nurse it back to health. Ken knows this is a pipe dream but is unable to sway Cyn in her desire to nurture something.

What follows is emotional combat at its best that highlights the mostly unstated, repressed underlying resentments and desires of the couple. It sounds devastating, but in the hands of these two highly skilled actors, it is a seething black comedy that will captivate you.

The story line has some twists and turns that may catch you off guard. Just when you think one thing may happen, there is an abrupt veer you did not see coming. Therein lies part of the fun. Just sit back and watch the action unfold.

The script is raw (definitely not recommended for children) which allows true feelings to come to the surface. It is quite a ride. The deer becomes an integral third-party player in this battle, prodding the couple to cope with down deep issues that come bubbling to the surface like hot lava. The deer (lovingly called Doe-Doe) even gets biographical credit as a cast member, as well she should.

John Mirk’s set design of the cabin interior is beautiful and functional. My mind could not help but connect symbolisms in the A-frame interior and the pointedness of the characters’ conflicts.

Bravo to the OACT for producing this brave work. Bravo to director David Henderson. Bravo to Cynthia Killion and Taylor Kasch who each gave a performance to be remembered.

There is only one more weekend to catch this extraordinary production. Make a reservation now for this Friday, Saturday or Sunday. www.ojaiact.org/ 805-640-8797.

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Greatest Hits – Hulu

Many people have the experience of hearing a song that takes them back to the past, but for Harriet (Lucy Boynton) this became her reality. Since the death of her boyfriend Max two years earlier, every time Harriet heard a song relating to their relationship she literally traveled back in time where she tried desperately but unsuccessfully to change the events that led to his death. When triggered Harriet would fall unconscious, so had to wear headphones when out in public.

Harriet’s friend Morris (Austin Crute) worked at a record store where Harriet could safely search through albums looking to find the song that would allow her to save Max in the past. To help cope with the tragic loss of her boyfriend from a car accident they were both in, Harriet was attending a grief support group but was generally just as an observer. A new guy named David (Justin Min) joined the group and Harriet gave him an invite to a fundraiser for Morris’ record store.

David did show and when chatting with Harriet looking over album covers he said “I love how music can pull you back to some moment in time” which was the sentiment Harriet was actually living. David found an album to buy, but Harriet also wanted it so they jokingly agreed to joint custody of the record with David agreeing to call her for details if she would give him her number. Then Harriet returned to her apartment to continue listening to albums in search of rescuing Max.

David called and asked Harriet to meet for coffee and she shared she needed to wear headphones due to a medical issue. She explained she lost her boyfriend and just couldn’t seem to get herself back together. David’s parents passed months apart, but unfortunately when sharing the music from her headphones Harriet heard familiar music from the street and slipped into the past. She retreated to the bathroom for a bit to recover, then walked out while David sat confused.

Harriet called David and asked if she could make up for the coffee shop by inviting him to a dance party hosted by Morris. Harriet knew it would be a safe place where she could have her headphones off because Morris was sensitive to the songs that triggered her time travel. When David asked how she could only be without headphones at record store fundraisers and drag queen dance parties, she simply said she was just haunted by music.

At the next grief support meeting, David invited Harriet out for a drive in his convertible but a song came on the radio and she had an episode. Once she recovered Harriet explained she got a traumatic brain injury leaving her in a coma for a week after the accident, and after waking she found she traveled to the past whenever hearing a song related to her boyfriend. She told David the whole situation, but it all seemed too much for him and he left.

Harriet reached out to David who gave things another try by surprising Harriet by taking her to a silent rave on the top of a building in the middle of the city. Afterwards David decided to share some of his life by bringing Harriet to the family thrift store. As it turns out, Harriet had seen David before, the day of the car accident at the thrift store they visited just before, though she didn’t have any interaction with him, just observed a brief conversation between David and his mother.

In a stack of records in the shop Harriet found the one she was looking for that was playing the day of the accident. David said he didn’t believe the time travel stuff, but Harriet was actually able to prove to him she saw him the day of the accident. This reality brought the opportunity for Harriet to save Max, but it would mean erasing her past with Max and her present with David.

Runtime: 1h 34m

by Shirley Lorraine

The Shroud Raises Questions at Elite

Some questions are meant to be posed repeatedly throughout time, the answers to which may never come. This is the basis for The Shroud, now playing on the main stage at the Elite Theater in Oxnard.

Written by Michael Kassin and directed by Brian Robert Harris, the play presents a stirring experience as the capable cast wrestles with theories, religion, possible explanations and flat-out mysteries. For more than 700 years, historians and scientists have battled for superiority over the linen cloth espoused to have covered Jesus after his crucifixion. Is it fact or fiction? Or perhaps a little of both? The biggest question remains unanswered.

In this play, Dr. Laura Gibson (Theresa Secor) is presenting a symposium on the “facts” of the shroud. Attending the presentation are two colleagues from Los Alamos National Laboratory of New Mexico. One of them, Red Broida (Brad Strickland), makes his intense skepticism known, causing quick a ruckus. As a steadfast atheist who had worked on the development of the atomic bomb, Red needs more proof than faith can provide. After some confrontation, he is invited to become part of a scientific team to further investigate the shroud by applying modern testing techniques.

During this team’s exploration, Red’s mental strength is repeatedly challenged by his memories of personal failure, his colleague, John (Lawrence Gund), a faith healer with demons of her own (Cas Weisberg) and another gentleman from Los Alamos (Ronald Rezac). Erin De Horta appears briefly as Meg, Red’s former wife.

In a revealing talk-back with the author after the performance I attended, Mr. Kassin related that his goal in writing this piece was to capture the release and growth one might experience of inner transformation. One way was allowing the audience to follow Red in his spiritual journey when he comes to grips with the absolute faith some hold than can be healing even without proof, to his realization that the invention of the atomic bomb may have had a deleterious effect world-wide and that he was a major factor in that outcome. Other characters experience transformations they need to move forward. Each one carries a revelation.

The play causes one to reflect on many different levels. Even though the shroud itself is a focal point, the play is about much more than that. It is about inner struggles, faith versus fear, and coming to know yourself and what you believe in. It is about dealing with choices made and the resulting consequences.

The cast manages the weighty material well. Cas Weisberg delivers a strong and compelling performance. She brings her own identity as an Indigenous Two-Spirit actor into the already complex character of Laura with a knowing eye. The blend works especially well in the context of this multi-layered piece.

Theresa Secor, a familiar persona in Ventura County theaters also portrays her character with ease and a bit of humor.

The Shroud runs through April 20. www.theElite.org or 805-483-5118

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
3 Body Problem – Netflix

“3 Body Problem” begins during the 1960 Cultural Revolution in China, when Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng) watched her father beaten to death in the public square merely for being a notable scientist during the Chinese class warfare. Due to her background as an astrophysicist, Ye was sent to the work camps and after nearly dying was eventually brought to a large radio telescope station nearby to serve the rest of her time. Ye was given limited tasks but quickly came to the conclusion that what they were working on was not a weapon but a communication device.

Ye learned it was designed to communicate with alien life and devised a plan to magnify the signal using the sun, though one of the guards took credit. Ye waited for the right opportunity to be alone to launch the signal and shockingly got a reply repeatedly saying “Do Not Answer” and that she was lucky a pacifist on the other end received her message from a world that would conquer Earth without hesitation. Ignoring this warning Ye replied “Come. We cannot save ourselves. I will help you conquer this world.“ forever changing the course of history on Earth.

Fast forward to current day in the UK where renowned Oxford scientist Vera Ye (Vidette Lim) (daughter of Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Cho) and Mike Evans, who met in China) led a group of researchers, all former physics students at Oxford, until recent unexplained suicide that coincided with a rash of intentional deaths of scientists around the globe. The students were a very close group of friends: Auggie Salazar (Eiza Gonzalez) who was working on nanofiber tech that she worked closely on with Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) along with Jin Chen (Jess Honog) and wealthy entrepreneur and former member of the Oxford physics lab Jack Rooney (John Bradley).

Around the time of Vera’s death, Auggie started seeing a countdown and was given a message to quit work on her nanofiber project. Then a strange woman approached her asking “Has the universe ever winked at you?” telling her to be outside at midnight. Auggie told Saul about the interaction and asked him to be with her at midnight. Sure enough, all the stars in the sky started blinking in what Saul thought seemed to be a code that exactly matched Auggie countdown. The next day Auggie performed the scheduled and much anticipated test on her nanofiber project, but immediately shut it down after the text which did make the countdown clock disappear.

Jin visited Ye for answers to Vera’s death and Ye said she was constantly playing a video game, giving Jin a strange headset to take with her. It appeared to be a game where Jin had to save the world from some sort of climate catastrophe and after her initial hesitation, played the game to level 3. Jin discovered the problem was that there were 3 suns, not just one, affecting the climate and causing it to become unstable. Jin went to talk to Jack about the headset, but when he tried it on a woman immediately appeared saying you don’t belong here and chopped off his head with a Samurai sword. The next day a box with his name showed up at Jack’s door with a headset.

British investigator Clarence “Da” Shi (Benedict Wong) was investigating the multiple scientist suicides and discovered several of them possessed the same headset. Ye and Mike Evans knew that it was not a game, but as Jin and Jack eventually realized it was actually a portal to another planet repeatedly experiencing the same climate crisis that was looking for solutions through Earth’s scientists. The aliens were also working with Mike and Ye who were gathering allies and supplies around the world in anticipation of the alien race’s arrival. Through Mike’s arrogance and ignorance, he caused the aliens to not trust humans and the aliens sent a message to every device on Earth saying “YOU ARE BUGS” and related they were on their way to conquer Earth.

Runtime: 8 – 1h episodes

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
American Fiction – MGM & Rent or Buy

“American Fiction” is the story of well-educated black college professor and author Monk Ellison (Jeffery Wright) who was frustrated and challenged by a world around him that continued to support the outrageous stereotypes of black culture in American. Even the books he had written were shelved in the African American section of the bookstore, though the only black thing about most of them was the ink. Following a couple of incidents where Monk crushed the sensitivities of some students in his class of Literature of the American South, he was given some mandatory time off and through a string of unexpected events became the popular center of all he despised.

During Monk’s time off, he had already been scheduled to attend a writers conference in Boston, where he was part of a panel of authors that was meagerly attended due to the presence of another black author Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), who had just written a bestseller called “We’s Lives in Da Ghetto” filled with black stereotypes and ethnic language. Boston was also where his family resided and though Monk didn’t generally spend much time with them he took advantage of connecting with them while he was there.

Unfortunately, his sister Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross) had a heart attack while they were at lunch and passed away shortly thereafter in the hospital. Lisa had tried to tell Monk that their mother Agnes (Leslie Uggams) was suffering from memory loss, and the point was driven home after Lisa’s funeral when their mom flooded the house while sitting in front of a bathtub of running water. Monk took his mom in for tests that revealed she had medical indications of early Alzheimer and that her situation would only deteriorate, recommending that the family seek a care facility soon.

With his sister gone and his brother on the verge of divorce, it was up to Monk to find and finance his mother’s care. Due to his mounting family issues and seeming frustration over Sintara’s success, Monk had a few strong drinks and decided to write his own book of black stereotypes filled with drugs, guns, deadbeat dads and gang violence, and called it “My Pafology” under the pen name Stagg R. Leigh. He sent it to his manager who said it would never get published, but Monk said he wrote it as a joke and didn’t care and wanted it submitted to publishers.

To both their shock and surprise not only did a reputable publisher want to publish the book, they wanted to offer Monk $750,000 believing that it would definitely be a bestseller. To see how far he could push the publishers, he insisted that the book be renamed to “F**K”, to which they excitedly agreed. “F**K” became a bestseller and Monk didn’t disclose to anyone that he was actually Stagg R. Leigh, not his girlfriend or any family, and was eventually chosen to be a judge for the annual Literary Award for which “F**K” was in consideration for though Monk did not support it.

Monk was again shocked that three out of the five judges voted for “F**K”, leaving Monk and Sintara on the losing side, and so it was decided by popular vote that the book won. Side stories were being circulated that Stagg was a wanted fugitive and the FBI even contacted Monk’s manager, though he didn’t reveal the true details. Riding on the wave of bestselling success and constant publicity, Monk was eventually offered millions to make a movie from the book. At this point, all Monk could do was concede to the tremendous success of what he considered a joke.

“American Fiction” received five Academy Award Nominations, including for Best Picture and for Best Actor-Jeffrey Wright, and ended up winning one Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Runtime: 1h 57m

Eisenhower: this Piece of Ground

by Patrcia Schallert and Yana Khiyod

“A perfectly cast John Rubinstein, brings our 34th president back to life in a drama filled with timely political lessons from a leader who put country over party.”

Los Angeles Times

Introducing “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground”! Prepare to be captivated and provoked by this remarkable theater production that delves into the life and achievements of the iconic Dwight D. Eisenhower. With meticulous research, author Richard Hellesen has crafted a truly engaging narrative, bringing to life the incredible journey of this renowned Presidential figure.

Through vivid storytelling, Eisenhower, takes a transformative journey from military general to President and the lasting impact he had on the nation. Tony award winning, Broadway and Hollywood star, John Rubinstein is a fascinating and charismatic actor, with perfect comedic timing. John Rubinstein’s portrayal of Eisenhower is nothing short of a masterpiece. His uncanny comedic tempo combined with his captivating presence, truly brings this historical figure to life on stage. As he delves into the life and achievements of the iconic Dwight D. Eisenhower. his performance was both stimulating and thought provoking.

Set in 1962, one year after Eisenhower’s presidency, the show depicts him diligently working on his memoirs at home, while stinging under the recent low presidential ranking given to him by historians in New York Magazine. He intimately shares with the audience, the great and small moments of his life, the things he is immensely proud of (creating NASA, signing Civil Rights legislation, balancing the budget, leading the Cold War, and modernizing US transportation by creating the Interstate Highway System), the things he is conflicted about (all the soldiers who died under his command in the Normandy invasion on D-Day), and his most painful moments (the guilt he feels over the death of his three year old son).

Doug Halter, Councilman from District 2 said, “This masterpiece performance is thought provoking and timely to today issues and not to be missed and it is hoped that Eisenhower’s legacy will continue to inspire generations.”

Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground brings us vibrantly into the past while commenting and gaining insights into current issues today. This performance runs through March 10th at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura.

Catch this sensational performance, Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground at the Rubicon Theater is running through March 10th. Don’t miss out!