[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Punish Me, a new play by Michael Dukakis, at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Hollywood, running January 28–February 25.
Punish Me is a brand new play about a struggling screenwriter living in Hollywood trying to get his script produced. As an immigrant, he is racing against time; his visa is about to expire, while working hard and looking for love.
The story revolves around Nick, a Greek man whose dreams of making movies in Hollywood have drawn him to LA, risking everything he has back home. Of course, there have been many people before him, and there will be many more still to come who have made this pilgrimage, hoping to fulfill their chosen destiny. But this play explores more deeply the relationship he finds himself in because of this creative drive. The journey to stardom is one we have seen told in many ways before. But the lengths that we are able to go to, the pressures we will withstand, the ways in which we can allow ourselves to be pushed beyond our limits both emotionally and morally…that is the far more interesting story Punish Me examines.
Nick meets Damon at a red carpet, and after a few meetings and some serious flirting, he is lured into what becomes a more and more abusive and controlling relationship. He falls hard, but this is also complicated by the promises made to him about connections to the film industry and a mother who is a big Hollywood producer, looking for new material by unknown writers just like him. When you are as hungry for success and validation as Michael is, it’s hardly a surprise that he is compromised by this charming yet brutal man. And so the dilemma becomes how much more about how much abuse and emotional torture a person can withstand in order to fulfill their lifelong dreams.
Punish Me is a fascinating and compelling story. The characters are funny, they have gravitas, and are intelligently and compassionately written. It’s based loosely on a true story and it does feel very real, very believable. That’s as much due to the casting as the writing.
Everyone is really excellent. Nick is played by the writer of the piece, Michael Dukakis, and he has a warm vulnerability to him that really convinces us that this talented and lovely man could be caught in what turns out to be a trap to serve the twisted narcissistic mind of a failed and broken human being.
We all want to be loved. We all want our talents to be recognised, and we all want our dreams to be realized. Punish Me is a modern Los Angeles cautionary tale, mixing obsession, sex, love and the American dream together into a funny and darkly noir-ish thriller.
The performances are nuanced and convincing as all these disparate characters spin around Michael, all witnesses to him losing control in a desperate spiral of broken dreams. It’s not a predictable end though; there is some peace and justice to be found. And lord knows we all need a little of that right now!
Punish Me is playing through February 25 and I highly recommend it! But be prepared for some simulated sex that might make you blush a little! I thought the show was perceptive, honest and also a lot of fun! Bravo!
Tickets:
https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=7424
When:
January 28–February 25, Wednesdays at 7:30pm
Where:
The Hudson theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood
Punish Me Cast
Brianna Bell, Jaiden Blessing, Michael Dukakis, Dylan Griner, and Anuradha Senevi.
The Team
Lighting design is by Steve Pope, sound design and original music is by Paul Yorke, intimacy coordinator is Annie Reznik, and visual artist is Nick Lambrou. Stage manager and assistant director is Diego Salazar Lira. Punish Me is produced by Michael Dukakis with associate producers Yiota Pampalou and Katerina Dimakopoulou.