20
November 2012
SECTION One
Larchmont Chronicle
Dining & Entertainment Guide Election spoof, writing class are themes of current fare Tired of all the election hoopla? Still one of the undecided? Well you won’t be after you see November by David Mamet. It’s a unanimous thumbs up. This hysterical farce centers on President Charles Smith, played wonderfully by Ed Begley, Jr. He’s facing re-election and he’s fading in the polls, sound familiar? He has an opportunity for a little positive spin by pardoning the country’s Thanksgiving turkey. Keen on having a presidential library he attempts to parlay that seemingly altruistic act into a last-ditch effort to find his place in political history. Along the way he deals with his lesbian speechwriter Clarice Bernstein (Felicity Huffman), his long-suffering aid
Archer Brown (Rod McLachlan), turkey handler (Todd Weeks) and an Indian, Dwight Grackle, with more money than he knows what to do with played by Gregory Cruz.
Theater Review by
Patricia Foster Rye
Director Scott Zigler keeps the Mamet dialogue humming in this one act. The scenic design of the oval office by Takeshi Kata is terrific. Through Nov. 4, Mark Ta-
per Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., 213-628-2772. 4 Stars *** A few steps away at the Ahmanson Theater you can take in Seminar by Theresa Rebeck. Four young writers have gathered in an upscale New York apartment to learn more about their craft at the knees of their guru Leonard (Jeff Goldblum). They’ve paid an exorbitant amount of money to have, for the most part, their work belittled, insulted and dismissed. Or in the case of Douglas (Lucas Near-Verbrugghe) horror of horrors, be told he should take his work to Hollywood. In addition to pretentious Douglas, there’s sensitive Martin (Greg Keller), sex-pot Izzy
“SEMINAR” cast at rehearsal are, from left, Greg Killer, Jennifer Ikeda, Jeff Goldblum, Aya Cash and Lucas Near-Verbrugghe.
(Jennifer Ikeda) and the wonderful Kate played with manic self-concern by Aya Cash. There are some surprises and some pedestrian outcomes and some comedic “bits” that
are a throwback to sitcom television. Ms. Rebeck is the creator and writer of the TV show “Smash.” Mr. Goldblum plays his usual likeable, predictable self and director Sam Gold keeps the action moving. Through Nov. 18, Ahmanson Theater, 135 N. Grand Ave., 213-628-2772. 3 Stars *** It is said that if you are submitted to a totally black environment for long enough you can learn to see in the dark. If you’d like to try out this theory, see Theatre in the Dark. That’s right folks, for a little over an hour and a half, the audience and the stage is in inky blackness, occasionally illuminated by brief tableaus. In a series of 16 short oneact plays, one can listen to Nijinsky talking about and dancing The Rite of Spring, ants creating maps, a runaway train in a tunnel, being born, plus a ghost story or two just in time for Halloween. There’s a trip to Whole Foods about midway with some refreshments for the audience. Each play has a different director and the ensemble cast does yeoman duty in numerous roles. An opening announcement insists you stay in your seat with specific instructions on what to do if you panic. Part insurance disclaimer, part hype, and part necessity because the blackness becomes tedious with a slight edge of claustrophobia, if you’re so inclined. Sound becomes your touchstone and the sound design by John Zalewski is brilliant. Using live sound effects and pre-recorded music it puts the plays in perspective. In case you’re wondering, a rather ingenious way of keeping the actors from bumping in to each other is revealed during the curtain calls. Through Dec. 16. On Nov. 3 “More Dark” opens and the plays then run in repertory. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., 310-4772055. 3 Stars