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

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