“Astrologically Screwed” theater review at Whitefire Theatre.
Written and performed by Pam Levin
Directed by Chera Marks
Let me just say right off the bat that I absolutely adore Pam Levin. She is fearless, hilarious, compassionate, insightful and wise. Although I am almost certain she will blush when she reads that.
Her new solo show, “Astrologically Screwed” takes us from Pam’s 25th birthday gift, a visit to an astrologist, through to the present day, pondering the effects the predictions have had on her life.
Her discovery that her grandmothers were her guardian angels. The various and very specific things told to her on that day that did indeed come to pass. How does knowledge of our future effect the paths we take? The men we choose? How we manage our life in general?
Pam was told that something would happen to her on her 40th year, but the astrologist wouldn’t tell her what it was…which seems to indicate that it wasn’t good. So how do you go through a life with the vague understanding that you might not have that long?

Pam Levin is not a person who sits off to the side and takes the road more traveled. In fact, she is so infused with life and courage that her shows are transcendent experiences.
Joy infusing and revelatory. “Astrologically Screwed” has a little more edge to it though. A little more personal pain and seems to be a story that she might have hesitated to tell.
Solo work is all about digging deep and exposing the rawest of nerves. Good solo work that is. And Pam Levin is genuinely among the best of the best. Her warmth and compassion now seem to have a source, or maybe an inspiration. We can trace most choices in our lives back to moments, milliseconds of our history. Our origin stories, once unfolded, trace clear lines, obvious markers that on some level comfort us, surely, when we ponder why we are where we are. This story of Pam’s is particularly enlightening. A sliding door through which all that she has become is reflected. Or is it? In truth, how will any of us ever know what might have happened had we turned another corner, or held fast when we did not, or let go when we could not.
In “Astrologically Screwed,” Pam steers us deftly through her life and her choices. How she came to move to L.A., met her husband, forged her career, battled losses, faced health issues, and trusted her instincts.
She’s a brilliant performer, heartbreakingly open and often hilarious without even trying. She’s the kind of actor you cannot take your eyes off. Sharing this story with us just makes her all the more compelling and artful.
If you get the chance to see “Astrologically Screwed” then take it. I’m hopeful she will have more performances and with things slowly getting back to some kind of normal, perhaps they will be in person! We can only hope!
You can find out more about Pam and her upcoming shows here: http://talesofmodernmotherhood.com