[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Aegis Theatre Company’s Phoenix, written by Scott Organ and directed by Michael Yavnieli at The Broadwater through October 20, 2024.
Phoenix is a play about finding love when you least expect it. Two people, Sue, played by the wonderful, fierce Emanuela Boisbouvier and Bruce, played with a brilliant ruffled nerdiness by Gus Schlanbusch, meet at a bar. They have a great time, spend the night together, and a month later, after hearing nothing from Sue, Bruce gets a call. Sue is pregnant, which is one thing in and of itself, but Bruce has been told he can’t have kids, which is why Sue goes to the trouble of telling him. She thinks he should know that he definitely can, regardless of her predicament.
Sue is a traveling nurse and has everything booked and arranged through her network. But she is currently working in Phoenix, so that is where her appointment is. Bruce lives on the East Coast and decides that he wants to support her decision to terminate not only in spirit but in person. So he drives four days across country to be there. Romantic? Strangely, yes. But then romance is not the only ‘weird’ in this very funny, extremely relatable and deeply clever play.
These characters are awkward, charming and gloriously drawn by these two very fine actors. They are so sweetly odd that they could only ever be together. Two misfits. Two odd ducks drawn to each other, not just because of the badly timed pregnancy, which almost seems irrelevant in the end. They are just, well, perfect for each other and you are rooting for them from the very beginning.
It’s an unexpected joy this play. A play about an abortion that is heartfelt and hopeful and sweet. These are two lonely people who have a hard time fitting in, finding friends, and feeling connected. But with each other, they find peace and love and that mysterious and intoxicating feeling of belonging. And don’t we all want that more than anything?
Phoenix is a truly terrific gem of a play, with wonderful performances by two brilliant actors and I highly recommend it!! Bravo!!!
Tickets:
Where:
6322 Santa Monica Blvd, Lost Angeles
When:
October 4 – 20
Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm