You Say "Anything" - Little Bit of Love

A Sweet Piece of Humanity in a World Turned Asunder

by Jesse Schmitt

Many people who come into The Lillian Theatre (1076 N Lillian Way; Hollywood) to see the world premiere of Tim McNeil’s new play “Anything” may have some preconceptions for what is about to go down. They may think that they’ve heard this one before; the story of a reclusive, grief-stricken widower from the deep, deep south of Mississippi and a thrown out on her ass Hollywood transvestite who is one the brink of self annihilation can only mean one thing; porno.

In fact this premise can be something else entirely as Mr. McNeil and the players from the Elephant Theatre Company pull off quite well. With a little bit of theatrical magic they’ve created a sweet story of an older man looking for companionship and a tranny that is well beyond her years and is also looking for, well, companionship. This is the one piece which works like a charm in this small little story; it goes from being the premise for a smut video and becomes a story about two desperate people who have both hit their rock bottom and as a result are fully clinging to one another with nowhere to go but up.

The show starts us in a classically appointed apartment as our hero, Early Landry is just moving in following the death of his wife of years. Mr. Landry is not familiar with apartment life; in fact he’s not even familiar with this time zone as he’s from the deep south of Mississippi and he’s landed into the heart and heat of Hollywood. There are some things which he does take a storied hand at; for instance banging on the ceiling when his pair of upstairs bong-smoking neighbors are “rocking out” too loud, too long, or too late (ah! how I wish we all had such agreeable neighbors!)

Then there’s Freda. A beautiful and exotic transvestite who is found to be on the losing side of an argument for her boyfriend to stay with her. She’s jealous, he’s had it, and Early is there to peek in on what’s going on in the apartment next door. In typical nosey neighbor fashion he hears the whole disagreement and a bond is struck almost immediately.

Like Thelma & Louise for the apartment set, this is a story of two wildly different people who need to be able to trust in each other to save themselves. In doing so they are able to learn about themselves and save one another. Tender, touching, hilarious, and lovely; you only have a little while longer but if you get the opportunity you should certainly see Anything; a fairy tale love story for the 21st century.

www.plays411.com/anything
www.elephanttheatrecompany.com
www.myspace.com/elephanttheatrecompany