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| Top: Kim Hamilton, Bottom: Karla Mosley |
By Joe Straw
EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 10TH, 2018!
EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 10TH, 2018!
Sometimes something comes along that is, at first glance,
startling and then manages, by the very nature of theatre, to capture the
imaginative spirit. It is rare when you
come across a new play that is breathtaking, breathtaking in the way that it
fills the senses and settles the intellectual beast within.
There is a dramatic intimacy in Bernardo Cubria’s work of
art, a fire breathing, soul searching familiarity that leaves one delightfully
lightheaded when stepping out into the cool night air.
The Ammunition theatre company presents The Giant Void in My Soul, written by Bernardo Cubría, and supremely directed
by Felix Solís, is now playing at the Pico Playhouse through June 3, 2018.
Cubría has written a play that respires the human condition
and defines it exquisitely, all for the benefit of understanding the human
kind. This play is a major work of art
that veers off from heightened realism to highlight the struggles of humanity -
all realized in a clown costume.
Solís, the director, has overseen and has executed a show
that is almost flawless. The moment the performers step onto the stage their eyes
reflect a deep objective and a history of the character. Solís is a master craftsman and what we see is
the craft, brilliantly implemented, and exceptional in every conceivable way.
Let it be clowns to help us understand the deeper meaning of life.
But what is it about this particular play that touches so
many humanistic chords? Simply put, it is the story of the human condition, and
the searching of a salvation that will fill the void.
Funny, but, when we enter the theatre we are face to face
with a red curtain, blocking our view, that bathes us in an eerie red shadow. Cramped behind the red cloth, knee to keen,
elbows to elbows, there is unusual feeling of wanting out, or wanting more until
the curtains slowly open.
Fool 1 (Karla Mosley) and Fool 2 (Kim Hamilton) are the best
of friends. In real life, they don the
articles of comic entertainers, in white clown suits, in clown makeup, and
painted faces – the works. They are inseparable juvenile clowns excited to be making
their place in the world.
They speak to create an original thought or the one thought
that would change the world.
On two grey sawhorses they sit, one sawhorse with fur fabric
and the other with a plain leathery fabric that one might find in a three-ring
circus to hold back the humanistic throngs of indulgent fans or wild animals.
Tonight, they grow tired of the banter that leads them into cavernous
pit of self-doubt until a red bow falls from the sky and that “falling star” sends
them into a tizzy.
Seriously, clowns take life exponentially, which is why they are clowns.
The bow unfolds – a tattered piece of red cloth – but, exponentially
now, a small red curtain. But, what does it all mean?
And through a ceremonious inclination Fool 2 places the red
curtain in front of Fool 1’s eyes and lifts it as Fool 1 immerses herself. And through the act of mental inertia Fool 1
feels a strong need to fill a giant void that is now in her soul.
So, they sally forth on an incredible clown journey, with
copious resources in hand, to that place, in a faithful act of fulfillment and
gratuitous suppostions.
This would be, beyond a doubt, the finest cast ensemble I
have seen in intimate theatre.
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| L - R Claudia Doumit, Kim Hamilton, Karla Mosley |
Karla Mosley is
Fool 1 who rides the sawhorse of naivety, grows up, has a child, and is still a
clown, always searching for something to fill the void. Mosley is terrific in
the role, a clement clown that wants only one thing. Mosley gives an outstanding
performance.
Kim Hamilton is
Fool 2, a clown that has aged wisely and leisurely seeks to discover something
that is not. But she takes the journey for
the sake of her friend. It is a crash
and burn journey, still things turn out well because she waits and listens. Hamilton
conveys the strength in this character nicely. She also presents a deep
concentration while in her character, one that sends a delicious shiver down
one’s spine.
Claudia Doumit
has a number of roles as the Bartender/Woke 1/Deep Thinker/Partner; in each
role, she is decidedly different. Doumit
has a very sultry look, (despite the wonderful clown makeup) and is incredible
in each role. She has a level of
concentration one rarely finds in intimate theatre and her physical performance
was inventive and joyous to watch.
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| Top: Liza Fernandez, Bottom: Claudia Doumit |
Liza Fernandez
was also outstanding as Drunk/Woke 2/ Coworker/Baby/Parent. Her round face works perfectly as the Drunk
and as the crying Baby. But there is
more to her than just the look as she glides effortlessly throughout the night
in her performances.
There are three actors who did not perform the night I was
there. Xochitl Romero (Fool 1 understudy), Malorie Felt (Bartender/Woke1/Deep Thinker/Partner understudy), Karen Sours Albisua (Drunk/Woke 2/Coworker/Baby/Parent
understudy) and Liza Fernandez will
move into the Fool 2 role on May 27th 2018.
The extraordinary Producer on this project were Julie Bersani, Michael Feldman, and Bernardo
Cubría.
Sami Rattner,
Costume Design, and Lighting Design by Lauren
Wemischner paint a brilliant chiaroscuro as the white clown costume blend
in with the natural colors of their mood in yellows, blue, and reds. It is
mesmerizing in its effect.
Mischa Stanton’s
Sound Design takes us through another time and place. It places the audience in the void and helps
us to come out.
Erica Smith’s
Makeup Design, the clown makeup, highlights the individual characteristic of
each clown that helps to send us on a delirious journey.
Arian Saleh was
the Composer, and Brian Nichols was
responsible for the Projection Design.
Run! Run! Run! Run! And take someone who likes to explore the
intimate details of all things.
https://thegiantvoid.eventbee.com
The Pico
10508 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
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