as soon as i got the event card in the mail from the geffen, i told myself that i HAD to get tickets. i'd just re-watched "in her shoes" recently and i couldn't help falling in love with mark feuerstein (despite his short stature -- ok, come on, we all know i like them 6' or taller!), who was oh so adorable when he said "i've always wanted to be your bitch" to toni collette. ohmigosh. *sigh* i also haven't seen rosalind chao in forever and a day, though i had fond memories of her in joy luck club when she stood out in the rain talking to andrew mccarthy (another one of those short but amazing male leads). i remembered paula cale lisbe from somewhere, but i hadn't realized where until the program reminded me of that show providence with melina kanakaredes. in any case, plays w/actors i know and love are always worth seeing, especially up close and personal. (amazingly enough, i saw them all yucking it up over dinner at corner bakery before last saturday's show! i love seeing movie stars in westwood. b/c it's totally like they're real people with real lives and who aren't *necessarily* pretentious.)
as soon as i saw tickets available on goldstar, i jumped on them! as a poor grad student (and someone who appreciates time on her own), i bought a single ticket for a friday night. (i'd considered buying 2 and asking around for takers, but considering that they were still a bit pricey, i didn't want to bank on finding someone last-minute. plus, to be brutally honest, i usually have very little desire to spend time w/anyone but myself after a long week. being around people all the time is seriously exhausting!) so with less than 30 minutes to spare, i scarfed down some ralph's sushi (which is surprisingly yummy) and i went to see the show!
now i've heard about the audrey skirball kenis theater and i'd just looked at the specs recently, but i had NO idea what to expect when i walked in. the space was soooooo intimate. and i mean that in the best way possible. the colors were perfectly warm and neutral. there were just enough seats with just enough leg room. the ceilings weren't too high. the stage wasn't too far away. i was in the last row, but i felt so close to the scene. it was amazing. i know i say that a lot, but whatever, it was amazing. i must admit that the music came on a bit loud, but otherwise, the set-up was perfect.
in terms of the play itself, i totally appreciated that it was 4 acts back-to-back w/no intermission. i have to say that i really despise intermissions b/c they totally break up the action (at least in my mind). i mean, i don't want to talk about what's happened or what might happen (or even hear other people talking about it). i want to get through the whole thing and then reflect on the whole thing. i'm no longer in HS english class where i need everything broken down, chapter by chapter. there's something to be said for the big picture and letting it all come together in the end. which it did in this play. shockingly together.
when i got to the end, i thought "OMG. typical. people never change." (which is interesting, b/c that seems to be house's motto -- one that he reiterated multiple times in the most recent episode and which has been stuck in my head since tuesday night.) even now, i'm not sure whether i was surprised or not. there was something about mark's character that just made me a little uneasy, and the ending just brought it into the light. as for the 4 unbelievable actresses, their characters also seemed to reflect that sentiment. they were perfectly cast into these character roles -- ones that i've seen regularly portrayed on tv throughout my life. paula -- the neurotic housewife/mother (so like her character in providence). justina -- the lusty latina (a bit stereotypical, but not unbelievable). rosalind -- the type A professor (again stereotypical, but with a bit of a bizarre twist). and jaime -- the free-spirited blond (who reminded me of holly hunter in saving grace).
the way the 4 female characters evolved through their scenes was really fascinating. it was possible to sense the different personalities embedded within each character, especially their insecurities and how they were deeply affected by their interactions with this one man. it was heartbreaking really. to the point of tears every now and again. i often wonder whether it's a good thing to show on stage/tv/film what people already know (or think they know). does it just reinforce all their negativity? (i suppose positivity is possible, though less likely.) on the other hand, life is what it is. and reality is what it is. if men suck (and they do at times), shouldn't women just be able to acknowledge this and move on in whatever way, shape, and form they choose? i, for one, think that plays are meant to convey one person's perspective on the world. and that the audience is free enough to make its own decisions. others may disagree with stereotypes being perpetuated by the stage. but if that's someone's experience, who am i to deny them the opportunity to share it?
at any rate, this play was quite good. while the story line sounds similar to the movie plot for something that came out in the last year or so, i assure you that the point is totally different (at least from what i can remember about the movie). it's worth seeing, especially when the actors and the venue are all so quality. plus, can i just say that i hope i look as good as rosalind chao when i get to whatever age she is? aside from one or two wrinkles, her face and figure are ridiculous. way to go for ethnic women barely aging!! woohoo!! (sadness for everyone else who won't be able to age so gracefully. ha! that's mean, i know, so sue me.)
a must see:
http://www.geffenplayhouse.com/
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