Cornucopia at the Actors Workshop Studio in NoHo

It Began With a Bang & Ended With a Yell:
The Shared Experience from the Cornucopia

One weekend each month at the Actors Workshop Studio a rotating group of performance artists, actors, musicians, storytellers, poets, and those interested in the art form all converge on the Actors Workshop Studio to share their stories, their frustrations, their sadness, their fears, their rage, their voice and their song in a grand convergence of the time honored art form of storytelling; an art-form that seems to have been silenced by the ceaseless noise in a world that is too busy, too loud, too reckless, and too narrow.

Don’t tell that to the performers at the Actors Workshop Studio though; these artists are so vibrant and full of life that their tale just comes bursting out at you; like a peaceful cable car ride brought to a screeching halt by a screaming child or an awkward teen shown the door by a resistant father who isn’t hearing the right message. The performers I saw this past Sunday all had such an endearing heart; lasting longer than the non-biodegradable tuna fish cans that were drawn into likeness with eating a thermometer; an endurance that is just as visceral as the embarrassment brought on by a proud father at a graduation.

This was just a small sampling of the stories that were on display this most recent go around in North Hollywood; the performers each had their individual strengths, their own warmth, their own passions, and their own comical insights into the idiosyncrasies of our whirring modern age.

As we all filtered into this tiny, tiny room with a smattering of fold out chairs, benches, stools, and what appeared to be former assembly hall seats that had been smashed together to form this story space. The room immediately brought forward the idea that this might be some kind of a silent auction or show of hands vote of some kind, but no performance of any kind! Don’t be dismayed by the ramshackle room as the performance buzzing around the fringe of this venue was set to pop. I looked around and was reassured by all the happily smiling people who had all made their reservations well ahead of schedule; of course they must have as the sign on the door as we entered said “Cornucopia is SOLD OUT.”

Situated around us were a whole host of hand drums, shakers, wood blocks, and tambourines which were a welcome sight to me; I’d once been an experienced percussionist all throughout my former years and dreamed of going on to a career before fate intervened and cut that idea from the limb. What I’d learned from that episode more than 10 years ago, I’d lost somewhere along the way; but this knowledge and these facts were reintroduced through the stories of these five people who helped to show me the true spirit of the afternoon.

The event began with Mike DeMenno who was the owner of all these random drum pieces. He had a story for us about how he went on a camping adventure, all alone. Not fifty miles from his own front door he’d traveled with some camping equipment and his own drums and as dusk fell over his campsite he pulled out his drums and began playing. All alone in the wilderness the beat, beat, beat of his own drum music attracted curious children one night and ended up bringing together the whole campground as so many others surrounded his tent and the driving force of the music and danced and laughed and played. We all were instructed to play the instruments which were before us and the uplifting spirit of Mr. DeMenno’s story coupled with the driving beat of the drum really set the day off with a bang!

Padraic Keohane was next up. His story was one which had obviously haunted him for some time; the story of his first date in high school. His was the tale of a confused younger version of himself who hadn’t known he was confused when he’d arrived to pick the girl up, but was very sure he understood abundantly less and more a few hours later. While his story, which might have been better suited for another audience, veered off into the fantastical at points it was still entertaining.

Mr. Keohane was followed by the svelte and beautiful Tanya Alexander. Her story was more of a sprawling, visceral, rhyming, epic, long form poem than straight up story. Careful ears were rewarded though as this was the tale of a girl who was brought up being taught to use her brain to succeed but had been shown that her body gets her much further, indeed! Told as a bridge from the past to the future between the poetic styling of a Ginsberg or Kerouac to the modern day rhymes of Q-Tip, Ms. Alexander is towards the front down a path and a new way of communication and understanding. Down deep though, her poem and her story revisits universal themes which are at once timeless and powerful. One is reminded of the challenging work of Ralph Ellison more than seventy years past and his character without a name.

When an actor is able to be so entrenched in the psyche of their character, it is an awe inspiring experience. Honesty in performance is rare but the teetering edge that Vicki Juditz walked was absolutely brilliant. Ms. Juditz’s story was our own story; that of the consumption of man and how horrifying it really one day will be. Much of her story was ‘light;’ that is, one could see, as most of the audience did, how what she was saying was funny. However, her absolute commitment to what she was saying; her pathos, made this reviewer a little uneasy at times; I’d wanted to lose myself in the absolute grandiosity of her words, but in a way I also knew better.

Finally was the jovial Michael D. McCarty. He shared the story of his daughter which is a story many of us have lived through, participated in, overcome, and been able to reflect back on or share ourselves. His daughter was a rebellious teen and her cathartic tale of going through the ringer, taking life’s challenges, and overcoming them on her own (no doubt, with a whole lot of love from her dear old dad) brought forth the Michael D. McCarty hyena yell; at her graduation and to close the show.

I walked away from the Actors Workshop Studio a little jarred at the random presentation of these equally, divergently powerful pieces; it was then that I realized the point of this art form; the fact that Padrick’s date went so horribly and Mike had that lonesome camping trip; the fact that Tanya came to her own epiphany; the fact that Vicki’s still dealing with her own demons; the fact that Michael is able to wake up every morning and sing out loud; the point wasn’t a single idea but the combined installation of these stories into the basket that is our modern day impression of a Cornucopia.

These are a bunch of strangers, thrust into a room with a bunch of other strangers, all trying to navigate the course that life has plotted out for them with one simple message; everyone gets redirected, misdirected, makes mistakes, trips and fall, gets embarrassed, gets infuriated, loses something they thought they could never be without but gains the knowledge, the wisdom, the courage, the experience, and the fortitude to pick themselves up, pick another road, and continue forward. So if you’ve ever been confused, heartbroken, wanted to laugh so hard that you cried or cried until you just laughed; if you’re confused at the way that people behave, if you’ve ever lost your own self in your own way on your own path then you will, no doubt, find some solace in the stories of these random few who came to tell you they too know the feeling that only you’ve known. And they’ve survived.

Cornucopia plays one weekend per month at the Actors Workout Studio; 4735 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood, 91602; (818) 506-3903. All inquiries about Cornucopia can be directed to host Ellen Switkes at theellenloop@hotmail.com. Become friends at www.myspace.com/cornucopiastorytelling

Displays of Affection in North Hollywood

Two One Act Plays Walk the Line

"Displays of Affection" is a twin bill of one act plays; Carnality by Mark Lowenstern and Riches by Lee Blessing; that is currently running at the Avery Schreiber Theater (11050 Magnolia Blvd) in North Hollywood. While affection is said to be on display at this theatre, you wouldn't know it with all the sarcasm, yelling, and broken glass in the room. Affection it is though and affection is, despite all the events within the works themselves, what is come to be seen. The displays are on view in two marriages in two very different, distinct, and difficult passages in their flow.

Carnality was the first show which leads off the festivities and it features Irene White as Michelle and Zach Dulli as Ben; Michelle and Ben are parents of a near kindergarten child who have recently had an "amicable divorce:" per Michelle's wishes. Poor Ben can't let go and this becomes the whole problem in this short play. Michelle is visiting to discuss where to send their child to school and as the lights come up Ben is seen gripping onto his former wife. Immediately their relationship becomes clear as Ben begins leaning in on Michelle; "I hear that you've been dating" "Who said that?" "I don't remember!"

The humor and pathos which colors the past of their relationship is endearing through the astute character choices of the players; Dulli plays Ben like a puppy dog who is shedding all over you but looks so cute from afar; White plays Michelle with a cautious reserve which is quickly exploited but to whom she does not buckle. We quickly learn that Michelle has got problems of her own with their divorce. "We should spend more time arguing; I just need to hate you more!" and it is apparent that there is more to these two than meets the eye.

We're left in a comfortable place of hopeful reconciliation with Carnality but the second piece Riches shows a much more damaged couple and much more damage to the meticulously crafted set. In the first piece we were in a half moved in apartment with no stove for the male protagonist. However the set quickly becomes in the second piece a hotel bedroom on the 21st wedding anniversary of Carolyn and David played with an amazing amount of convincing energy by Marypat Farrell and Michael Dempsey. This play depicts a very involved and complicated argument that anyone who has been in a meaningful relationship of any standing will have a keen eye into.

On this picture perfect anniversary that Carolyn and David are sharing with similarly aged business partner of David and his twenty three year old wife, Carolyn has one mantra, "Let's go down to the bar." David is a lot more sympathetic and would rather remember the good times from their original honeymoon in the same hotel; one floor below; and everything else that goes along with that.

Carolyn ultimately reveals her unhappiness; David can't believe it and demands an explanation. Carolyn has some interesting observations which is what makes this play so relevant, powerful, and familiar for many. "I can't stay in a relationship because there is nothing wrong with it!" "People begin to be un-attracted to the things that they used to be attracted to - this just can't change."

While in the end you believe that these two crazy cats have another 21 years of good times on tap, there is an interesting bit of straight ahead commentary that should be heeded; always give your partner an adequate amount of space, always leave yourself the amount of room to reinvent yourself. The underlying messages are even more interesting such as How far does any person need to be pushed before they snap? What is going on inside the head of your partner, should you have one? And how boring might this play have been if poor David had just relented with his wife downstairs to the bar? How boring might all our lives be?

Displays of Affection runs though November 11th at 11050 Magnolia Blvd North Hollywood CA

www.plays411.com/affection

ACTober Fest from Fire Rose Productions

Beautiful, cathartic, amazing, and joyful are not terms typically associated with 10 minute plays, however this was the scene at the Secret Rose Theatre (11246 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601) this past weekend, Produced by Fire Rose Productions and local luminary Kaz Matamura, the plays selected for this production seem to be artfully chosen. All of varying levels of skill and intensity, the 5th Annual ACTober Fest of Ten Minute Plays is around for one more week; I encourage anyone in the area during these days to make haste and see these groundbreaking new plays from this smart company.

The revolutionary short play in question was "The Hole," written by Art Schulman and directed by Elizabeth Brasler. The Hole is beautiful, cathartic, amazing, and joyful in addition to being an indictment of our times and a vindication of the individual spirit. Essentially a solo show, powerfully erected by Lynne Conner as her character enters into an outdoor park area, sets up an easel, and warns the soundtrack for this show; a solitary guitar player, artfully strummed by Joey Brasler, that "we don't need to talk; I do plenty of talking when I draw." What seems like a rather simple conceit ends up being anything but. While the ending may seem a little bit obvious, in hindsight, it is the powerful musical score of Mr. Brasler, the nimble words of Mr. Schulman, the artful direction of Ms. Brasler, and moreover the convincing and desperate invocations of Ms. Conner that steal the show and put this simple ten minute play down in the history books as one to remember.

Also notable from this series as "Harry Wilson's 15 Minutes" which is of similar, though slightly more light commentary on our news and fame obsessed culture. Christian Gossett directs the seven players in Dennis Jones play as the chatty characters fumble and bumble through this hilariously broadcast slice of life.

"11th Minute" by Marika Barnett and directed by Ms. Matamura was hosted as a staged reading on the night that I attended; however, even though the fresh actors had scripts in their hands, you could see the underlying tension and farcical humor in the deftly written play.

"Tipping Point," by Mark Andrew and directed by Jennie Roberson shows the struggle between letting go and hanging on and is an eye opening account of the life altering choices many of us need to make too, too early in our lives and the consequences of holding on.

Capping off the night was "Bad Dad," by Jan Michael Alejandro and directed by Alan Palmer is an antithetical "Full Monty" style musical of grandly proportioned fathers and "Leap Year," by Roy Bottochio and directed by Stu Berg was a yuk-yucky suicide attempt which took its own life that led off the evenings affair.

The ACTober Festival of ten minute play actually runs through the 10th of November at the Secret Rose Theatre in the NoHo Arts District.

www.ACToberfest.com
www.FireRoseProductions.com

The Love Talker in NoHo at the Hub

When you walk into the eerily lit, long, narrow theatre space and you hear the crickets chirping, you can bet that there is going to be no good going on. When you take in your surroundings in the high backed, old time, carnival style chairs and you see the ivy crawling up the walls, the veils hanging down from the ceiling, the bunk bed area high above the stage, and the hollowed out tree stump on the floor, your mind goes on overdrive and you can bet that there is trouble in the wings.

This is the scene at the play written by Deborah Pryor and directed by Ben Kusler, "The Love Talker," which is running now through November 17, 2007 at The Hub Theatre (5425 Lankershim Blvd. N. Hollywood, CA 91601) This play is not new; in fact it was first produced in The Actors Theatre of Louisville Humana Play Festival in 1987 and had a brief run at The Hudson Guild Theatre, Off Broadway in Manhattan in 1988.

Much of the language in this play seems a little dated at best; this is a Huck Finn yarn told in a 21st Century world. It seems, in this modern world that not many of us are that accustomed to entering an unfamiliar, anonymous theatre and be expected to suspend our disbelief long enough to enjoy the show. This is the sad truth to this particular staging.

Unfortunately for this play we are all too well aware of everything that we see and with actors entering from behind the audience and players coming and going from all points on the stage, it was tough to get my bearings enough to appreciate the play before me. At just over an hour this play zips by; with two of the four players setting themselves up on either side of the battle over the presence of the other two, you can see right away the ball of yarn begin to unravel.
Becca White and Olevia White are Gowdie and Bun; sisters, in the play only, and the older Bun has a dark recollection of the past when their mother engaged with a man known only as "The Love Talker." Younger Gowdie was only a babe at this time and can't even recall their mother at all, really; so she is ripe for the pickings of this dubious monster when he makes his unwelcome return.

Alexi Sean Anthony is The Love Talker and he smoothly glides all around the stage in a come hither manner that is both alluring and repulsive; Amanda D'Angelo plays The Red Head; a character, much like the Furies of the Ancient Greeks or the Witches from Shakespeare; she foresees the drama before its unfolding and recklessly yaps about it.

With able setting from the design team, steady direction of an unwieldy text by Mr. Kusler, and all around solid performances; particularly so from the sisters, whose roles were a little more developed and their struggle more clearly defined, this is a play that is definitely worth further scrutiny. Some who see this may not think that it is much more than a ghost story. However "The Love Talker" reminds us that the most basic human elements; lust, revenge, jealousy, freedom; are no where more compelling to watch than when blood ties become strained.

The Love Talker plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM through November 17.
www.plays411.com/lovetalker
www.goldstarevents.com