MADNESS, MAYHEM, and OTHER STIMULANTS … When Women Write!

 

MADNESS, MAYHEM, and OTHER STIMULANTS … When Women Write!

Series A – Diversions of Life, 7 short plays

Written by Linda L. Rand

Directed by Arden Teresa Lewis, Harris Shore, Fran Freedman, Samantha Shada

Produced by John Lant

Running from August 26 – October 1, Fridays & Saturdays 8PM and Sundays 2PM

Brickhouse Theatre, 10950 Peach Grove St., North Hollywood, 91601

This group of plays is part of the Write Act Repertory Theatre’s Summer Playwrights Lab.  This first series of plays, there are two more, is written by Linda L. Rand and runs for the first two weeks of the festival.

If you enjoy taking a peak into particularly funny or profound moments in other peoples lives, then you will love the arrangement of this Summer Series. 

I adore shorts because they give the writers a chance to play with a wide variety of tones and genres and the actors have an opportunity to perform what is mostly a collection of pivotal closeups without all the frequently unnecessary exposition.  For the audience, it is a journey of drama in micro proportions and it gives no opportunity for boredom, quickly moving from one situation to another is as short a time it takes the stage managers to move the sets, which they do with accuracy and blissful speed.

So what is the theme of these selection of plays?  Well I think you could say that what connects all these plays, at least for me, was opportunity.

Some given, some taken and some missed, but all beautifully written and really brilliantly acted.  Ms Rand certainly knows how to tell a tale and although some of these stories felt as if they were very close to her heart and perhaps mirrored her life, others were much more of a stretch from what I would imagine her life to be. Although writers, in my experience, are pretty dark horses, so who knows!!

Valentine At The Titanic with Tatum Shank (Don), David Willis (Leo), Clara Rodgriguez (Kat) and Ashley Taylor (Donna).
Valentine At The Titanic with Tatum Shank (Don), David Willis (Leo), Clara Rodgriguez (Kat) and Ashley Taylor (Donna).

So what we have here is an evening of funny, dramatic and quirky stories…with lots of heart.  This may just be a half decent description of the writer, if I may be so bold.  Each and every actor was totally committed and seemed as if they were thoroughly enjoying these terrific characters.  The direction seemed light and bold, I can only imagine the fun they had at rehearsal! 

It’s so lovely to spend time with interesting ideas and thoughtfully executed performances.  As a frequent audience member I can tell you the attention to detail and the care with which every minute was produced on stage was very gratefully received.  I believe in small theatre, and The Brickhouse is a very small theatre, but I have never felt shortchanged in it.  This production, just like every other I have seen, is totally professional, heartfelt, beautifully engineered and well worth your time.

That Sinking Feeling with Nancy Lantis (Annie) and Clara Rodriguez (Dr. Bonner).
That Sinking Feeling with Nancy Lantis (Annie) and Clara Rodriguez (Dr. Bonner).

This is a women’s festival of course, and it showcases some truly authentic and excellent talent…but of course they are ladies, so they will always be excellent!!

Let’s keep supporting the small theatres that make NoHo an arts district.  Let’s spread the word and keep putting some bums in seats….

I highly recommend MADNESS, MAYHEM, and OTHER STIMULANTS … When Women Write!

Running from August 26 – October 1, Fridays & Saturdays 8PM and Sundays 2PM

Brickhouse Theatre, 10950 Peach Grove St., North Hollywood, 91601

http://www.writeactrep.org/index.html

Cast

Suzanne Colins, David Mingrino, Nancy Lantis, Clara Rodriguez, Dianne travis, Harris Shore, Georgina Ann Silva, Tatum Shank, Tinks Lovelace, Maria Kress, Marcia Rodd, David Willis, Ashley Taylor

Production Crew

Michael Eden, Susan Hunter, Linda Rand & Rochelle Perry

Lighting/Sound Design – Ken Cosby

Associate Producer/ Stage Manager – Jonathan Harrison

Graphic Design – Rochelle Perry

Publicity – Sandra Kuker

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