Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang

L - R Jeffrey Sun and Alfonso Faustino -Photographs by Megumi Smisson

By Joe Straw

…I was an immigrant.  Once you’re an immigrant you’re always an immigrant… – Yo-Yo Ma - Yo-Yo Ma, A Life Led With Bach -NPR Tiny Desk Concert by Mary Louise Kelly, Tom Huizenga

The words spoken in that conversation are wonderfully appealing.  It touches an emotional chord in me that is profound and one that replenishes the human spirit. -  Narrator

Firescape Theatre in Association with The Beverly Hills Playhouse present Yellow Face written by David Henry Hwang, directed by Robert Zimmerman and Produced by Victoria Ma through September 26, 2018.

The stage, on this night, is essentially bare with the exception of nine seats, a telephone table, and two scaffoldings upstage right and left with enough room for each character to disappear upstage and come back to their seats as a completely different character. 

With the exceptions of DHH (Jeffrey Sun) and Marcus G. Dahlman (Roman Moretti) the other players play multiple roles to great satisfaction.

Marcus begins the play with an email to David Henry Hwang (DHH), an actor he has briefly known, about his time in China, a bonding of sorts with his Asian brothers and sisters.  And that charade is what angers DHH who still carries his anger on his sleeves and in his pen concerning his relationship with Marcus.  

“That was the first of Marcus’s e-mails to me.  More than a few Asian Americans still wonder what happened to him.” – DHH

(Ouch. Not even a backhanded compliment.)

Still angry DHH says Marcus was a footnote in Asian theatre.  “Blink and you would’ve missed it.”  (Still with the digs.)

“As for my own role in the story, some Asian Americans noticed, but they chose to forgive me for my mistakes.” – DHH

(During the course of the play The Announcer (John Pendergast) introduces the cast of character when called upon.)

“Playwright Frank Chin:” – Announcer

“David Henry Hwang is a white racist asshole.” – Frank Chin

Okay, so DHH is not beloved by all Americans as he takes his lumps and moves on, but he never forgets.

After his success on Broadway, and a Tony Award, for M. Butterfly DHH is at the pinnacle of his career.  In his acceptance speech he lets it be known that it will be a new day in America for Asian actors.

And just when he thought that all was well in American theatre BD Wong (Alfonso Faustino) calls DHH to tell him that Miss Saigon is coming to American with actor Jonathan Pryce, an Anglo, in the leading Asian role and that he must do something about it.

But DHH is not so sure that Jonathan Pryce isn’t Asian or a mixture thereof.

“You’re sure the actor’s white?  Maybe he’s mixed race.” – DHH

(DHH can be so dense.)

“David, it’s Jonathan Pryce.” - BD

BD enlists DHH to write a letter to Actors’ Equity to protest the casting of Pryce in the New York version of Miss Saigon to which the participants from both side of the pond raise their voices in protest, Cameron MacKintosh (Dennis Nollette), the producer, Bernard Jacobs, the President of The Shubert Theatres, and Actors’ Equity.

Alas, DHH has done his part and seems satisfied until he gets a call from Carla Chang (Jennifer Vo Le) at Actors’ Equity who wants him down at Actors’ Equity to protest. But, DHH has given up this fight and Actors’ Equity reverses its decision and allows Pryce to play the Eurasian The Engineer a.k.a. Tran Van Dinh.

One battle lost.

More on the way when DHH’s father calls HYH (Alfonso Faustino) a banker who sees nothing of the controversy other than his son getting his name in the papers.  But the next time he’s in New York he wants to get tickets to Miss Saigon. HYH also suggest he should not write about Rudyard Kipling but something more in line with his personal knowledge.

DHH is suddenly inspired by the debacle of Miss Saigon and writes the farce Face Value.

“It’s a backstage farce about a musical in which the lead actor is a Caucasian playing an Asian. On opening night, two Asian American protesters sneak in to disrupt the show – dressed in white face.” – DHH

Roman Moretti and Alfonso Faustino

Unfortunately, and here’s the funny part, they can’t find an Asian for the role.  BD is out because DHH wants a fresh new Asian face.  (And he’s not looking for John Lone either.) And after auditioning Rodney Hatamiya (Alfonso Faustino) they find Marcus who’s looks are ambiguously deceiving.

Robert Zimmerman does an outstanding job in bringing Yellow Face to Los Angeles.  Playfully iniquitous in the way humans move to achieve their rightful positions in life. Yet, it is a difficult and demanding presentation where limited rehearsals must bring out multiple characters for the six actors in the other roles. Finding a significant through line would be the ultimate test for any director.  But, overall the actors succeed nicely. Well, mostly, still one has observations.  

David Henry Hwang’s play seems like two or three different plays without a significant spine that ties it all together.  In its separate parts the play takes on the three phases of life.  One part is the fantasy of a theatrical life. The other is the madness of the theatrical life and the participants.  And the last part is about the harsh theatrical realities of real life and death. Broken down, the play is about Miss Saigon, the other part is about the play Face Value, and the other is about the relationship between DHH, his father HYH, and the banking crisis. Time, identity, and forgiveness seem to be the lessons we learn in this play. But, how does that translate in action?  And, how are those actions manifested to give it a grand through line?

Jeffry Sun (DHH) gives us some pleasurable moments.  In the opening moments he was still angered by the email, after all those years, which did not seem like a good choice. One can’t imagine anyone holding a grudge for that long. Better choices are available for this actor.  Sun just seemed mad throughout the presentation, which really doesn’t work for this character.  He was mad at his actor, mad at his father, and mad at his past relationship. Timing is also critical in this comedy. And, the relationship with his father needs a lot of work.  Could there be a moment where DHH takes pleasure in something he has done?

Roman Moretti (Marcus Gee) has a powerful voice and does well in this presentation. There’s more to add to character but overall the performance was wonderful. (Note: Yul Brynner had twelve curtain calls each night in The King and I.) More work on the curtain call would be nice if only to give Gee the power he perceives he has with his Asian “counterparts”.

Jon Pendergast is impressive as NWOAOC (Name Withheld On Advice of Counsel) as a reporter and he certainly comes off as a white racist reporter. There is a significant amount of work apparent in Pendergast’s performance, a nuance, and a backstory that eats this material up.  His work is wonderful and is brilliant in execution.  Do not miss this performance.  He plays the announcer, upstage left, and one would not have expected this type of performance as he came downstage.  Tremendous work.

 

L - R Dennis Nollette, Lisagaye Tomlinson, Alfonso Faustino, and Jennifer Vo Le

Jennifer Vo Le as Leah Anne Cho, also gives a performance that should not be missed as well.  This is an actor who is very physical on stage, and with expressive eyes accompanying a deep level of concentration, and an actor willing to take chances with her characters. She is wonderful to watch.

Allonso Faustino plays HYH and others.  Faustino has an Italian name but has an Asian look.  Interesting. Knowing little about this actor one can only suggest that vocal lessons are in order to give his voice the power the other actors had.  Also, work needs to be done to develop the relationship with his father, which doesn’t work to perfection at this point.  Love is crucial for the relationship to work and for the play to progress.  The father son relationship needs strengthening because it ties the whole play together.   

Dennis Nollette is a wonderful actor that provides a wide variety of characterizations to the people he portrays.  From the Frank Rich character to the adult bookstore manager all were wonderfully managed.  This is also a performance you should not miss.

Lisagaye Tomlinson is very appealing in the characters of Jane Krakowski, Miles Newman and others.  David Henry Wang’s mother is Pilipino and Tomlinson would do well to capture that accent but the other characterizations were extremely nuanced and wonderful to watch.  Tomlinson is also very funny as Miles Newman, the casting director, who gets herself in an invidious position and then tries to find her way out of it without much success.

Understudies who did not perform the night I was there are as follows: Cait Bidwell, B. Jordan Reed, Melodie Shih, and Edward Hong.  Edward Hong is also the Stage Manager.  

Publicity - Sandra Kuker PR. 

Run! Run!  And take a sociologist who will love the interactions between characters.  

Beverly Hills Playhouse - August 10 - September 26, 2018

254 So. Robertson Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yellow-face-tickets-47122220831

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Famous by Michael Leoni

Foreground Christopher Dietrick, Background L - R Alexander Daly and Thomas McNamara - Photos by Genevieve Marie Photography

By Joe Straw

EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2018

Those that go to see this play will see similarities to the brief life of River Phoenix – a Hollywood icon perceived to have had a squeaky clean image.  - Narrator

When first entering The 11:11 Theatre, formally the Macha Theatre, and before that The Globe Theatre, one notices a lot of changes to the theatre, in the theatre, and around the theatre. The infusion of capital is apparent.

The seats have been carefully readjusted so there is plenty of legroom now.  And what was almost a three quarter seating arrangement are now seats out in front of the stage and that is good.  

The high ceiling is covered with a reflective foil, and possibly with material to diffuse the sound.  And the lighting is up to date with the latest gadgets. This is a nice touch as well.

This is an intimate house so when the actors first appeared on stage they were all mic’d.  Oh, this must be a musical I thought - 19 songs on Side A, and 12 songs on Side B – music by Conner Youngblood.   But no, they were all mic’d to be heard above the party music and baby the party never stopped.

And as the music roared from the above speakers, my backside was vibrating by the heavy doses of base that rattled the theatre seats and the base to which they were attached, sometimes rolling as though heavy tanks were moving in.

Can this be the intimate theatre of the future?

An 11:11 Experience presents Famous A New Play by Michael Leoni featuring Music By Conner Youngblood, produced by Michelle Kaufer, Erica Katzkin, Rebecca Black and Max Feldman and directed by Michael Leoni though August 19, 2018.

Upon entrance, the set is bathed in a purple light, Lighting Design by Martha Carter; a bed sits center stage, with a sliding glass windowed outlook onto a balcony in the Hollywood Hills.   Upstairs is another bedroom and in an elevated mezzanine there is yet another bedroom upstage left.  Entryways to the small bedrooms and bathroom are by sliding glass doors. Everything is painted white, a very clean evangelical white – to match the main character’s  angelic public persona.

By 99-seat theatre standards, David Offner Scenic Designer is beautiful and a wonderful menagerie for the actors to play.

Set in 1994 (Phoenix died in 1993) the entrances and the exits are as fast and furious as they are famous and everyone attending the party wants to be famous, in their own little way.  

There are two Jasons, a young Jason (Derick Breezee) and a slightly older Jason (Christopher Dietrick) who actually have similar looks.  

The older Jason, living in the moment, is reflective of how this all came to be.  He does this two ways imagining his younger self, and two by observing his friends on cameras set up throughout the house.  

Today, the older Jason has found out that he has been nominated for an Academy Award, thereby sealing his “famous” moniker.  Unfortunately, it will be not be a good day for him.

For the moment, everyone wants a piece of him. Friends, family, tv and fans bang loudly on his door trying to get into his Hollywood Hills home.  The phone is continually ringing, his mother (Rachael Meyers) mostly - a person that Jason hangs up on every given moment – the reasons why are revealed during the course of the play.

And Jason is scared to death of what is coming but it’s nothing a little drink couldn’t fix, a little pill to take the edge off, or a shot of heroin to take away the biting edge and one that produces an inimical gaze.

Michael Leoni, director, gives us some amazing moments and strong visuals, but he takes on too much as the writer and director of the play.  And while there are fascinating things happening on stage, the play loses its focus, the through line - Harold Clurman fondly speaks to – and the nuanced story line loses its focus.

Lost in the confabulation and the music are the critical moments that define the play. What purpose are the rewind scenes? Why does Jason Mast (Christopher Dietrick) need to see those events played out again?  Can those moments be clarified?

The play is called Famous and we get that through the opening moments of the show so, how does the show progress? The main character has already reached his pinnacle. So, what is the conflict?   

Well, it’s easy to see that others want to be famous as well.  Why would they be at his home?  No one there seems to be celebrating his Academy Award nomination.

But, seeing the action of “I want to be famous” in action and dialogue is another matter.   

The famous guy needs to hold onto his fame, however that manifests itself, and the conflict is the interactions with others at the party including the producer that congers bad memories.

Everyone wants to be famous.  Few reach that goal, but they all try. One will focus the comments of the actions of the actors to enlighten.   

Christopher Dietrick (Jason Mast) has a very good look and is very believable in the role.  The character is shy and gives off a warm glow to the strangers he meets.  Underneath he is terrified to open the door.  He has an overactive imagination, highlighted by the chaos of shadows, which is why he sees his younger self and mother during the waking hours of his constant nightmare.  He moves in the direction of observation to find out who he is and why he got to be famous.  He must set aside his contemptuous feelings for the night and move toward his next big goal. While Dietrick has a very good look, the character’s objective needs to hold on to fame no matter the cost. As the actor, he can’t play the ending, because it’s a downer. But by observation, he gathers the information to stay on top, until he makes a fatal mistake.

It is through Derick Breezzee we see Young Jason. How he was manipulated and belittled by his mother, how she encouraged him to stay with male friend who were going to show him the “business”.  He takes the mental hits after these encounters but moves on with his life to reach the ultimate goal, that of becoming famous.  Breezzee (that’s got to be a stage name) does well and is very likeable in the role.

Markus Silbiger

Markus Silbiger is Dylan Mast, Jason’s younger brother. He is the no so good looking, not so talented, and the not so famous younger brother. Dylan lives, or stays with his famous brother away from their mother who didn’t’ have the same effect on his career or life. Dylan is a ne’r-do-well who really doesn’t know how anything works or how it works to become famous.  He takes a gun to his throat thinking it will be the route to immortality and famous but has seconds thoughts.

Alexander Daly is Ryan Logan a man with limited success and the best friend to Jason Mast through their ventures together growing up and in films. Ryan is bisexual with conscientious aspirations.  He has an anything goes mindset but by that same token he is very grounded in his life and what he hopes to accomplish. Does he push hard enough to get what he wants?  That is questionable. Still, Daly does some very fine work in this production.

Rosanna De Candia is Celeste Whitley a manager who loves to control all things around her, not letting her client go overboard, and she keeps the press at arms length.  Her role is to keep everything above board, legal, nice and tidy - to help her client keep his fame at all cost. But, she slips, wanting to hold on to her client, even if it means sleeping with his brother.  De Candia, need a backstory, as a way to fill in the missing gaps, things to add to a character that makes mistakes.  It is a good performance but one that she can add to.

You’re only as good as your last film and Gregory DePetro as Jack Rossi fills the bill as a sleazy producer who will take advantage of those he deems worthy of his attention.  The name Jack Rossi is loathed by the famous one and possibly hasn’t had a decent hit in some time, which is a reason, he is coming back to the well. In the party tonight he is making his comeback and destroying many lives in the process. DePetro does well in the role as he defines the sleazy part of Hollywood.

Megan Davis is Alyssa Rossi, Jack’s daughter and one who lives a cloistered existence in all that is Hollywood.  Alyssa is the icebreaker, the one who lowers everyone’s defenses by plying them with drugs and alcohol.  Her scruples are limited to the lowest rung of the moral ladder.   Davis is very watchable.

Decker Sadowski plays Heather Hayes someone who wants to move from TV to motion pictures.  She is at the party tonight to see if there is some kind of compatibility with the famous one. Heather appears to have scruples not letting the 16-year-old girl have drugs but gives in from social pressure.  At this moment, she has fallen, leaving her moral code as a footnote in her unwritten biography. Heather seems strong willed at times but falls into an unnecessary trap. Sadowski has to work harder keeping the character good, honest and in line to what is right in Hollywood.  One must also see, in the end, that all is lost from her, at least on this night.  Sadowski has room to grow but shows incredible potential.

Thomas McNamara is Brody James, a boyfriend to Heather and uninvited guest to the party.  He is a writer, like everyone in Hollywood, and manages to get a private meeting with the famous one while looking for his girlfriend.  He is unsure of his capabilities but will manage to hang in on the party until he gets his girlfriend back or a screenplay deal.

McNamara has a very good look and should do well in this industry providing the breaks come his way.    

Jacqi Vene is Caley Miller a 16-year-old girl who also wants to be famous but is in way over her head.  Finding a physical partner this night has been a troublesome adventure until she meets a man with no scruples at all. Vene has her moments.

Kenny Johnston has multiple roles as Paulie Sinclair, a man who preys on young boys promising them the world.  Also, Johnston plays Lawrence Michaels, a director who will not have any of his actors inebriated on the set. He defines what is right in Hollywood and Johnston is terrific as that character and in this role. It is actually one of the bright spots from a host of characters with less than ideal traits.  Johnston also plays the TV Host.

Rachael Meyers plays Jason’s mom and does some really fine work with the character.  She works on his behalf but takes his career to extremes by plying him with pills to keep him thin, calling him fat, and giving him to suspicious men to further his career.  Ultimately, she wants some of the money he is making now, she wants to be part of his life, and she lets nothing get in her way. If only Jason would pick up the phone, or let her into his home she could make things right again. Meyers is also terrific in the role though hardly sympathetic.

Other members of the crew are as follow:

Larae Wilson – Costume Design

Matt Rumer – Prop Master

Scott Casillas – Sound Design

Nick Hurtado – Sound Engineer

Linda Michaels – Hair & Make-up Design

Kristin Bolinski – Stage Manager

Avery Reagan – Assistant Lighting Design

Joseph Cervantes – Audio Technician

Run! And take someone who loves the Hollywood glitz and glamour to show them another side of the business.

Tickets:   www.famoustheplay.com

Reservations:  323*378*6969

The 11:11

1107 N. Kings Road

West Hollywood, CA  90069

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…meantime at HoJo’s by Christian Levatino

L - R - LQ Victor and Michael Franco

By Joe Straw

Politicians feel the need for political operatives – to get the dirty deeds done – those dirty stinking rotten deeds – all in a quest for not soiling one’s own linens.

But, inevitably, a dangling thread emerges.  When one is caught in an illegal act, there is a thread so fine, that if one looks closely, it leads to the original incriminating garment wearer.   

Sixth floor Watergate Complex/DNC Office – Saturday June 17^th, 1972 – 2:07 am

Once the door is jimmied, entry for all five shadowy figures was relatively easy.  They came in with their faces down, crumpled in manner, in a way not to be noticed. A morass of men jumbled in conflict and purpose.

This was the second go-around, as they were unsuccessful in the first. The not-so-easy part was the searching, and in complete darkness too.

But, now an immediate and not-so-savvy fix was in order. And this was their initial instantaneous screw-up – the flashlight – projecting out the window like a lighthouse – beaming out beyond the political storm clouds – all the way across the street to the Howard Johnson’s hotel.  

The watchers at the Howard Johnson, muttered something across the walkie-talkie about that darn light source. The shadows, simply annoyed, pulled out a cigarette lighter illuminating little as a token bit of sarcasm to those on the lookout.

(But, the HoJo lookouts were not the only ones observing!)  

Now, the third-rate burglars started taking photos of everything. Working fast, knowing that if caught in the Watergate complex, they would lose their amour-propre forever.  They were each doing what needed to be done for another life, a better life.

(Note: Nixon only lost one state against McGovern in the 1972 election, Massachusetts.  So, why he would risk his Presidency by ordering the break-in is beyond comprehension.  Paranoia tethers a worn garment; perhaps this was the significant thread?)  

The gangbusters theatre company presents the fully staged workshop production of  …meantime at HoJo’s by Christian Levatino, produced by Leon Shanglebee & Darrett Sanders, co-produced by Daniel Coronel, associate produced by Andy Hirsch at The Flight Theatre Sunday July 15, 2017.   

Patrick Flanagan and Hector Hugo 

Christian Levatino has written and directed an absurdist comedy, or a realistic story, based on what happened on Saturday June 17th, 1972 with the break-in of the Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. 

Given today's political discourse, both the realistic and absurd flavors are both on life’s menu today. And Levatino manages to tie in the politics of yesterday to the absurdity of today in a way that seizes your attention.

The best way to live this fast and furious theatrical event is to absorb it.  And there are some remarkable moments in this play, particularly with the Cubans as they play chess and discus God’s creation.  The language in Spanish and English speaks a loud and clear message of want, of unostentatious courage, of getting mixed up with the likes of people you wouldn’t want fixing the plumbing in your own home.

Understanding this is a workshop performance, there are certain things could be made clearer.  For example, this show needs a strong “McGuffin,” the one thing that moves the men in a clear direction.  The convincing reason they go into the Watergate complex.

But Levatino creates diversion in each character’s objective.  And the diversions in the writing are interesting elements in this play.  Everyone is breaking-in for his own reason, which is probably why the burglary was doomed from the start.

For me, the “McGuffin” is the Howard Hughes and Donald Nixon papers that drives these men into that office. But, that is the objective of the President, to his pleasure, who we never see.  And, despite the diversions created in the writing, there should be that one strong push that can satisfy the President’s objective before moving on to their own objectives.

Scene One – Howard Johnson’s Room 214 (419?) – Friday, June 16^th 1972, 10:03PM

After the initial scene in darkness where the arrests are made, we venture back in time to witness Bernard Barker aka Macho Barker (Patrick Flanagan) eating popcorn and staring out the window of the Howard Johnson hotel. He says he loves “Oriental woman” munching kernels out of a movie popcorn box, dropping popcorn and making a complete mess.  As an afterthought, he says he loves Cubans too, blondes, but mostly Orientals.

Around him are his accomplices – Eugene Martinez aka Rolando Martinez (Leo Oliva) and Virgillo Gonzales aka Villo Gonzalez (Hector Hugo) – two Cubans who enjoy talking about life, playing chess, and waiting out the night for the last remaining office worker to leave the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate complex. They are moving in to find a way back home to Cuba.

Frank Angelo Fiorini, a no-nonsense guy, who later changed his name to Frank Sturges (Gregory Littman), reads a newspaper and waits for the inevitable.

The Cubans remind everyone that no one is as crazy as the whites – who by the way started World War I and World War II.

They wait for G. Gordon Liddy (LQ Victor), el jefe, and E. Howard Hunt (Darrett Sanders).  Hunt  wants to be called Eduardo probably because he doesn’t want to be connected with this group and because he carries the thread from the President’s office.

E. Howard is the first to arrive. in the hotel room in a bad disguise; a wig that looks likes a blond cat covering half of his head.  It is a disguise that would immediately draw suspicion from any guard with an IQ of seventy-two or lower. E. Howard doesn't think clearly.

 “I have it on good authority O’Brien’s got something in there pertaining to Castro.  I we can find any evidence that that c*cksucker is helping fund the Democrats, then we’ll have a pretty good argument to knock him the f*ck out. – E. Howard Hunt

Interesting that E. Howard Hunt would use this line to get the Cuban's blood boiling. In hindsight it seems a diversion of sorts.    

G. Gordon Liddy finally arrives.  He tells the burglars that they are looking for information on Dick’s brother, Donald, who received a huge loan from Howard Hughes (even back then, sigh) and they do not want that information leaked to the press.

James ‘Jimmy’ McCord (Michael Franco) arrives in the room with the electronic equipment and Gordon takes him out to the balcony to have a serious talk with him. G. Gordon is unhappy about the first go round, the failed bugs, and now the batteries that need charging.  It’s just not going the way he wants it to go.

“You look tired.  Are you tired?” – G. Gordon

I’m good, Gordon.  I’ll grab a coffee downstairs before I head out.” – Jimmy

“Maybe you grab two? – G. Gordon

Scene Two – Secrecy’s The Thing – Howard Johnson’s Room 723 Friday, June 16^th 1972 9.17pm

Room 723 is where the electronic equipment is kept and where Alfred is to keep an eye and an ear tuned to everything.  Unfortunately, Alfred has his mind on other things.  After this job, he has his mind set on being on the Tonight Show speaking to Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon.

Jimmy interrupts Alfred and Alfred quickly goes back to the spying task at hand.  But Alfred’s a little freaked out when he learns the crew is going back in and he’s on surveillance.  Suddenly, that’s news to him.

G. Gordon comes in, bringing Jimmy and Alfred two coffees to keep them awake on this night. Jimmy shows Gordon the fancy and expensive equipment he bought with the money.

L - R Andy Hirsch and LQ Victor

The acting is well above par and solid. But there are things that could be added to make stronger character choices, to make a character soar. These traits are needed to identify and witness a character’s belief in his mission and where those traits are are taking the character.

Patrick Flanagan (Macho Barker) has a nice natural way about him on stage.  He is definitely a lot younger and has a little less life experience than the character he portrays.  A stronger character is necessary to carry the weight of Macho Barker and we really have to find the reason for the character being so sloppy and how that fits in the big screw-up in the end.  That said, there was some really nice work going on here.

Leo Oliva plays the Cuban Rolando Martinez, a man who knows his way.  Oliva gives the character some really nice touches in his natural way on stage.  Rolando expresses a non educated reality, one that doesn’t sit too well with his atheist amigo. Still it is his belief, a tattered conscience, wanting to make his truth whole. The Cuban accent from both actors were terrific!

Hector Hugo plays the other Cuban, Villo Gonzalez, a pick man, and a man who figuratively carries his education in his back pocket.  He is also incredible in the role as he presents his way of life in line with his education. He is a humanist with no religion or country and now he is in a no-win situation when it comes to his counterpart - but he keeps trying nevertheless. There are a lot of fine details in his work and this is a performance not to miss.

Gregory Littman as Frank Sturges is almost perfect in the role.  He is the right age and is specific in the manner in which he conducts himself. He will not take anything from anyone because he knows where all the skeletons are buried. We know his place in the pantheon of this group but not really sure how he contributes in the overall piece of the production.  He is the Luca Brasi without the payoff.

Darrett Sanders is E. Howard Hunt.  One is not quite sure where the character is going.  He is the contact-man for the administration and has worked with the men before, somewhere in Dallas 1963.  There is a threat from one man who wants the world to know what went on that day and Howard is a little upset by it all. But how does he fit in the overall through line? At times, he seems like an underling, other times, the boss, and still other times a dofus with the pants scene.

LQ Victor is G. Gordon Liddy.  There are times when G. Gordon’s feathers are ruffled into a look of a disgruntled parrot with feathers flying and beak banging against a desk. G. Gordon is on top of everything, a man with a mission who moves men to their doom. He is stone cold when he wants something done, right. Someone needs to say that Liddy does not like to say the word “pants”.  G. Gordon, has peculiarities, particularly with Jeb MaGruder which is why he can't get his meetings with the biggies.  There is a lot of good physical work on stage but LQ needs another pairs of eyes to smooth out the edges.

Michael Franco is mysterious as James “Jimmy” McCord a man who gives the go-ahead when thing go awry.  Somehow McCord’s alliance lies elsewhere.  He is sketchy when it comes to his loyalties, like he’s not on their side. There is a moment when he needs strength beyond recognition when everyone wants to jump ship. His logic must be presented as a reasoning beyond questioning and that is his strength.

There’s not that much difference in Andy Hirsch’s character of Lee Harvey Oswald in Sunny Afternoon and his portrayal of Alfred Baldwin in this production.  Baldwin has many dreams of having a successful career.  One of them is finishing law school. The other is being on the Tonight Show explaining what went on this night. (The imitations need to be spot on.  One hears it in the dialogue but not in the performance.) He never made it to the Tonight Show but he was in California giving an interview to the Los Angeles Times.  Interesting work but there is more to add to the character and also to the role.

I’ve seen Sunny Afternoon, King Dick, and …meantime at HoJo’s by Christian Levatino and can’t wait for the next go round. All three shows will all be playing sometime in October 2018.

Run! Run! Run! And take a political wonk.

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