Theater in LA — Page 5

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have extra tickets for Hollywood Bowl tomorrow. I'll probably start a new thread but wanted to post here first since some of you are from L.A.



Wednesday 9/14 - sing the truth celebrating Lena Horne, Dinah Washington, Eartha Kitt, and Natalie Cole. The artist performing are Patti Austin, Deedee Bridgewater, Terri Lynn Carrington, Judith Hill, Ledisi, and special guest Freddy Cole.

If anybody is interested in the tickets let me know! Section N1

The stage seats for A View From the Bridge are padded and have backs. They are like a padded bench with a back that has an aisle in the middle. I believe there are 5 seats (may have been 6 seats) on each side of the aisle. We sat in the farthest upstage seats and they were terrific. You will miss a few things like entrances at the door and when the narrator addresses the audience at the very beginning. However, the immediacy of being so close to the actors is wonderful, and there are many scenes where the actors play with the backs to the main auditorium. So anywhere you sit you will miss a little something. Overall, I would highly recommend the on stage seating.

I am glad that there are many who enjoyed the show, but it got to be a bit of a slog for me. Frederick Weller was one note for me. And while he started strong, his characterization got tiresome toward the end for me (lack of a dynamic range during the whole show). I thought the rest of the cast was terrific. It's a show definitely worth seeing. I don't think you will see a production like it of this show.

Updated On: 9/14/16 at 07:18 PM

I had the same reaction mainly because the central character was weak and boring. It did not help that the actor's line delivery was rote and one note. I was unmoved and, frankly, bored at the end. Glad I paid $25 only.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one with this reaction. Overall an interesting production with flaws. I have been thinking about it quite a bit since seeing it on Saturday, so definitely thought provoking.

I have to say that I don't think that I've read the script in 30 years, and this is first production that I've seen. The play itself is problematical, and this production really played up it's shortcomings for me. The first part of the play (the first act, although there is no intermission in this production) is a pretty subtle and interesting character study (especially the dynamic between the lead, his wife and their niece). However, the ending (and much of the second art) is like a sledge hammer blow that completely wipes away the previous strong points. This is what got tedious for me, and the stylization of this production, which seemed like an attribute at the beginning, really brought the script problems to the forefront. I know this is all old news for you New Yorkers, but I'm interested to see what others have to say about the play and this production.

I saw A View from the Bridge last night (stage seating, front row next to the center aisle, which was a great seat ... I can't imagine why anyone would pay more for orchestra seats that aren't as good). This was a strange case of me not really liking anyone in the cast and not particularly loving the play itself, but kind of loving the production. The acting was disappointingly weak across the board -- I kept imagining how certain lines could have been delivered better by stronger actors, and I never felt like any of them displayed the proper emotional state of the character. Now I wish I'd seen it in New York with the original cast when I had the chance.

The play (with which I was unfamiliar) is good but a little too obvious. I don't even think it needs the homophobia element, which seems like overkill. But I loved the simple elegance of this production, the stripped-down staging, the music and tension-building sound effects, the pristine white floor (so pristine you must walk on it barefoot!) that is only sullied at the end (but man, did that stink -- literally!). The scenes in which all the actors are on stage at once are especially electrifying (and my seat seemed perfectly positioned to view the tableau).

The theater wasn't remotely full, which is a shame, because I think people are missing out on the opportunity to see this production.

Saw the first performance of Druids Beauty Queen last night, it took a little while to get past the really thick Irish accents, but once you did what a brilliantly funny, scary, upsetting, horrifying, night of theatre it was. The cast was superb, highly recommend, grabbed a hotix an hour before the show and end up in the Centre section row D.

Is anyone familiar with The Actors Co-Op? Do they have a history of good (professional) productions?

Thinking of catching Steel Magnolis?

Heading to LA next week. What shows/theaters do I need to check out?

bandbfilm said: "The Actors Gang in Culver City is amazing - it’s spearheaded by Tim Robbins, and has had some great talents as members over the years like John C. Really and Jack Black."

Interesting to see Tim Robbins is back as Artistic Director at The Actors Gang.

When I left LA (more than 15 years ago), he had divested himself from the company, saying it was time they learned to live without his financial support and leadership.

jbm2 said: "Anyone familiar with the Little Cupcake Theater?"

If you're talking about the theater on Magnolia in North Hollywood, it's just Cupcake Theater, not Little Cupcake. I saw Spring Awakening there last June. Thought it was equivalent to a good college production. If you're in that neighborhood, a better choice would be Friends with Guns at the Road Theater Co. Among smaller theaters The Wolves at Echo Theater in Atwater Village has gotten a lot of good buzz and Faith Healer at the Odyssey in West Hollywood looks interesting. You've got Lackawanna Blues at the Mark Taper which has gotten raves and the sequel to Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks is opening at the South Coast Rep end of March. Those are 5 solid choices.

Has anyone seen Faith Healer at Odyssey?

I don't believe it's been posted in this thread before, but this spreadsheet makes a wonderful guide to shows playing in LA. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g_sWnFnSX9C9f_kCYddIZQ8Px5VL-znNwt0KMENvVFE/edit#gid=924163421

The next upcoming shows for me are Sunday in the Park at USC, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory at the Pantages, and Catch Me If You Can at the Carpenter Center in Long Beach.