[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Theatre West and Little Jack Productions’ world premiere of Mark Wilding’s The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now, directed by Charlie Mount and produced by Garry Kluger.
The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now is A Masterclass in High Stakes and Hilarious Hypocrisy at Theatre West
Theatre West and Little Jack Productions have done it again. They have brought us something truly special with the world premiere of Mark Wilding’s razor-sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy, The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now.
Directed with an absolutely flawless internal clock by Charlie Mount and produced by the ever-brilliant Garry Kluger, this production isn’t just a fun night out, it is an absolute tonic for the weary American soul.
The setup is deliciously clever. We find ourselves a year out from a harrowing international crisis. Six brave Americans have miraculously escaped the “Hand of God,” the most notorious terrorist cell on the planet. They are gathered together once more in the sleek but highly pressurized environment of a 60 Minutes-style news magazine to recount their survival for a waiting, eager nation. But as the cameras get ready to roll, we quickly find out that behind the polished veneer of “American heroism” lies a tangled web of deception, unruly demands, massive egos, and the hilarious unfolding truth of their year in captivity, where we discover absolutely nothing was as it was described.
Playwright Mark Wilding, an alumnus of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, knows exactly how to pace a story for maximum dramatic irony and comedic impact. He plays with our expectations of what a “hero” should look like, peeling back layers of vanity and desperation with a surgical precision that leaves the audience gasping for air between laughs.
It’s a brilliant script that walks the fine line between biting satire and deeply human absurdity, striking that balance with utter perfection.
Director Charlie Mount handles the escalating chaos with the steady hand of a master magician, which, fittingly, he actually is. He maps out the tension in the room so beautifully that every time a character makes a new, ridiculous demand that threatens to scuttle the entire broadcast, the comedic payoff lands like a thunderclap. The pacing is relentless but never rushed, nuanced and ultimately thoroughly believable, giving the ensemble cast the space they need to truly shine.
The talented ensemble delivers strong performances in this sharp satire on fame and media optics. Every single actor performs their wildly disparate characters to perfection. Proving without a doubt that no matter your personality or background, when you people are forced to be together for long enough and under the right amount of pressure, loyalties form, deep bonds are forged and the walls of self protection at all costs rise and rise around them.
Theatre West continues its long-running tradition of presenting engaging original work. The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now is yet another in a long line of brilliant, insightful and highly entertaining plays all performed at the longest-running theatre company in Los Angeles.
This is a must-see play. Funny, clever, surprising and packed with brilliant dialog and phenomenal performances.
I highly recommend The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now, it runs through November 8 at one of my favorite theatre in the City!
Tickets:
When:
October 2- November 8
Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 2PM
Where:
Theatre West
3333 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles
The Cast
The Feel Good Story America Needs Right Now cast includes Casey Alcoser, Bella Balsamo, John Combs, Samantha Gregory, Paul Gunning, Steve Nevil, Jill Remez, Clara Rodriguez, and Daniella Weeks.