Front Rows + Short Skirts = Forgotten Lines

Best show I saw last week is kind of surprising. Considering it’s a small cast, tiny theatre, and over 2 hours. But it is also extremely well acted by Zadran Wali, Olga Konstantulakis and John Cirigliano.I wasn’t familiar with this play or the playwright Richard Kalinoski, so had no idea what to expect as the play unfolded. At times in the first act I was reminded of Maria Irene Fornes “Conduct of Life” and hoped the show wouldn’t be reminiscent of that particular play or genre. There were several moments when I was reminded of “I Love Lucy” and the adjusting to marriage comic presence I was also not in the mood for. Ultimately, it is much more satisfying than either.The excellent direction from Paul Lampert highlights the relationship in a precise way, allowing for sustained interest throughout. The performance by Olga Konstantulakis is one of my favorite from recent shows.The set design (Adam Flemming) and light design (Tom Ontiveros) was also terrific. Great theatre.

Swingin’ bats: Sports and theatre have always held a similar place in my heart. Metaphors about the excitement of the crowd, the need to rely upon your teammates and the ability to excel under pressure abound. But then, I’ve never had an audience watch me taking a shower. I digress.The Celebration production is well designed and acted. The love of the game is present throughout the production (though I would have preferred the sound of a wooden bat in the sound design) The tale brings to mind such legendary baseball stories as Roger Maris, Cal Ripken and The Mighty Casey.Michael Matthews directs the ensemble deftly. All the men are terrific but Thomas James O’Leary as Marzak is sensational. We identify with him as he discovers the intricacies and beauty of the great American pastime. Through Oct 31.

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This world premiere, by Michael John Garces, succeeds in creating enough dramatic tension to sustain an entire season on 24. The cast, under the brisk and inventive direction of Alyson Roux, keeps the momentum hurtling through zippy dialogue and highly-charged fear-inducing twists and turns. The entire ensemble does good work, particularly Stan Kelly, Amanda Zarr and Edgar Landa. The show also has some of the best fight choreography I’ve seen in LA, courtesy of Edgar Landa. Definitely see it. through Oct 17th.