"Apollo" Soars; "Ghost" Needs Work or Will Disappear

"Apollo: Part 1: Lebensraum"

Playing through July 3 at the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City is "Apollo-Part 1: Lebensraum," by far the best play of the inaugural season at the Douglas. In a very untraditional and inventive way, "Apollo" focuses on the space race to the moon with an interesting (and to this reviewer, unknown) twist - it focuses on former Nazi war criminals who were extricated from post-war Germany by the US government to work at NASA. The play is well acted, visually stunning and extremely compelling.

It is worth noting how this play succeeds beyond another well done political play now playing at the Taper, "Stuff Happens" (see June 11 posting for review). "Stuff Happens" suffers at times from playing too much like a recitation of recent headlines. The problem is that the events depicted have happened too recently to allow for a powerful philosophical perspective. By contrast, "Apollo," while admittedly somewhat one-sided in perspective, uses its tilted perspective to illustrate a well known historical event with disturbing dimensions that have been hidden from the public psyche. Viewers owe a debt of gratitude to Director Nancy Keystone and the Critical Mass Performance Group for a well researched play which is performed in a unique and intellectually stimulating fashion.

I should note that the audience with which I saw "Apollo" seemed split over the show. If my audience barometer was working correctly that night, I would say 1/4 of the audience wanted the play to end 10 minutes into the first act, 1/2 if the audience thought the play was interesting but too odd for their tastes, and the remaining 1/4 (the group to which I belonged) thought "Apollo" was one of the finest originals plays to premiere in Los Angeles in years. This group eagerly awaits "Apollo: Part 2," which I understand will delve into the civil rights movement's intersection with the race to the moon.

Rating: ***1/2

"The Ghost And Mrs. Muir"

Another World Premiere, this one a musical entitled "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" is playing at the Noho Arts Center in North Hollywood. "Ghost" is a well cast and well produced little show that works well in its charming, recently remodeled theater. Rumor is the show is aiming to work its way to Broadway. I fear more work than is possible is needed to make this show succeed on a Broadway stage. Why not just keep this show where it works best - in a small house where one forgives most of this show's unfixable shortcomings? If you are looking for a nice little musical in the Valley, see this show now before its ambitions overtake its appealing elements.

Rating: ***

Next posting: My New York Spring/Summer Theater Report

"Stuff Happens," Especially in Act 2/ "Habitation" Drags On

The Mark Taper Forum is the host of the American premiere of "Stuff Happens", David Hare's dramatization of the events leading up to the Iraqi war, with outgoing a Taper Artistic Director in the Director's seat. Davidson has assembled an expert cast for this interesting, yet overly long, political drama. Although there is not a weak link in the cast, special mention is due for the outstanding performances turned in by Dakin Mathews as Dick Cheney, John Michael Higgins as Donald Rumsfeld and Stephen Spinella as French Foreign Minister Domininque de Villepin.

The first act is long on exposition, but short on involving drama, save for some electrifying moments courtesy of Collin Powell as played by Tyrees Allen. But commencing with the "Enter The French" segment in act 2, the show speeds along to its compelling conclusion. It is only in the Powell scene in act 1 and in act 2 that Hare seems to be going beyond a summary of news items, but the top-notch cast, direction and staging make the entire evening seem well worth the price of admission. The Taper deserves praise for taking on an intelligent, politically charged work at a time when political heroism seems to be in missing in action.

"Stuff Happens" is at the Taper through July 17.
Rating: ***

Through next weekend, "The Habitation of Dragons," a play by one of America's finest writers, Horton Foote, is at the Crossley Theater in Hollywood. The play has received strong reviews form the local press, and I was impressed by a local version of his play several years back. However, for this revieiwer, the acting was painfully bad and failed to convey the poetry of Foote's dialogue. I could not wait for Act 1 to end, then I darted for the parking lot.

Rating: *

Coming soon: My Spring/Summer 2005 New York Theater Report

Cornerstone Theater's "The Long Bridge Over Deep Waters"

Don't miss Cornerstone Theater's production of its latest Community Bridge show "The Long Bridge Over Deep Waters" playing Thursday through Sunday at the John Anson Ford Theater in Hollywood. An expertly directed, world premiere production of a heartfelt and intelligent show about how faith unites and divides people in Los Angeles with obvious implications as to how faith unites and divides people throughout the world. In light of recent world events, I cannot imagine a more timely and important topic than that dealt with in this show. The acting, by a mixture of theaters pros and community novices, is right on the mark. One of the finest works ever done by Cornerstone, this show uses humor and emotion to tell a series of stories that are compelling and instructive on the ways and means of faith and religion.

Hats off to everyone involved in this beautifully staged wonderful production.
Rating: ***1/2