[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of ELATE’s Recommended Reading for Girls, written by Ellen Struve,directed by Marty and Michael McCambridge, running through May 5.
Every time I venture down the stairs to the mysteriously tucked away ELATE Theatre beneath the Emmanuel Lutheran Church I am buzzing with anticipation. It’s something about the space I think. It’s special. Secret. Like a Hobbit hole or a magical hiding place. You feel nestled and embraced in this lovely theatre and that is just the beginning of the magic. The plays are always entertaining, heartfelt and uplifting. There’s absolutely nothing contrived or jaded about anything I’ve seen these lovely people do here. It’s always a pleasure to see what they have to offer and I’ve never been disappointed, from the amazing set design to the deep commitment from the actors to the brilliantly varied selection of work.
Recommended Reading for Girls is another triumph for them. What a wonderful, unusual and beautifully written play. The story centres around two sisters home to look after their mother who is ill with cancer. The eldest sister Amy, who has long since moved away, is staying in the house of her childhood and, when she opens the door to her unchanged teenage bedroom, she finds someone already there. At first, she doesn’t remember who she is, but as the story unfolds and the number of invaders increases, she realizes that this girl and three others who quickly join her are all characters from her mother’s childhood books…the ones she herself read growing up and held so dear. Sara Crewe from A Little Princess, Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, Heidi from Heidi and a girl detective based on the character of Nancy Drew, teen sleuth Penny Parker.
She is, quite understandably, shocked and more than a bit terrified, not sure if she is losing her mind or being played somehow. But when her sister sees them too, they both realize that something powerful is going on. Once her mother arrives back from the hospital chemo visit and also confirms these characters’ existence as she sits among them on her couch, the plot, as they say, thickens.
It’s as if her mother has wished these girls into existence to help her through this difficult and frightening time. She has sought comfort in their familiar faces, just as she did when she was a girl long ago. Who doesn’t remember the healing value of favorite books? Finding friends, discovering worlds and even yourself in them. Recommended Reading for Girls is a beautiful play, and as we rediscover these wonderful characters along with these sad sisters, fighting the dread of losing their mother, we are transported back to our own homes, our own childhoods and the joyous innocence of these wonderful, hopeful, silly books.
All the performances are brilliant. Nothing is overplayed or obvious and honestly, that would be easy to do. But this group of excellent and compelling actresses takes great pains to make everything seem completely real, totally believable and utterly authentic. The direction is light as a feather, or at least the effect of all this hard work makes it seem that way. It’s a truly lovely production of a surprising and emotional work. I loved it.
Aren’t we lucky that ELATE is in our neighborhood and has been now for 40 years, bringing us over a hundred shows over the years! Absolutely amazing. L.A. is a theatre town!!
I urge you to discover one of our hidden secret theatres and venture down the stairs to the Lincoln Stegman theatre beneath the lovely mid-century Emmanuel Lutheran Church and spend time with some of your own favorite childhood memories.
Tickets:
https://elate.ticketleap.com/recommended-reading-for-girls/details
Where:
Lincoln Stegman Theatre
6020 Radford Ave, North Hollywood
When:
April 20-May 5
Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 2PM
The Cast
Eva Mahgrefteh – Amy
Mae Linh Fatum – Jackie
Mary Lesczinski – Marilyn
Roberta Fasso-Locke – Heidi
Anastasia Lincoln – Sara Crewe
Jessie Shone – Anne Shirley
Sara Locke – Penny Parker