World Premieres inspired by a block party!
Variations on a Theme: The Best
Variations project conceived by Carrie Klewin
Variations project premiered at the Run of the Mill Theater in Baltimore
- 11/29/07 REVIEW: LAStageScene.com
- 11/29/07 REVIEW: OC Register
- 12/07/07 REVIEW: LA Times Blog
THEATER REVIEW
Variations on a Theme: The Best
by Steven Stanley, LAStageScene.com
November 29, 2007
The Chance Theater threw a block party in June and two hundred people
attended. After seven hours of "boisterous fun" and interaction, 100 short
plays were submitted to the Chance, all based on the theme "The Best." Of
the initial 100, 6 were eventually chosen to make up an evening of theater
entitled Variations on a Theme: The Best.
As might be expected, some of the brief one-acts are more successful and interesting than others, but at least two of them are really quite special, and the six plays together offer the cast of six a diverse group of characters to portray and ample opportunity to show off their versatility.
The hands-down winners among the bunch are the two dramatic pieces.
John Bolen's Best Chance, Chance Best, directed by Paul Millet, is a deeply moving portrait of an elderly married couple living with the husband's Alzheimer's and what appears to be the wife's incipient senility, and the effect this has on their grown children. David J. Dalton creates an indelible portrait of a man who can no longer distinguish between past and present, between real and unreal, and Karen Webster is heartbreaking as his increasingly forgetful wife. Daniel Berlin and Jennifer Ruckman do fine work as adult children torn between their love for their parents and the need to do something about an impossible situation.
Running a close second is Peter Schnake's one-person Baseball to a Russian, directed by Katherine Futterer, which affords Chris Raiskup a chance to show what a fine actor he is. Raiskup is Brian, a wheelchair bound athlete (which he vividly depicts seated in a straight-back wooden chair) who dreams of playing baseball. Brian is inspired by three men. The first is his friend Oscar, who is set to run on prosthetic legs in the Beijing Olympics (in a country where he might not even have been allowed to live). The second is Lutz Lang, who came in second to Jesse Owens in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, and who shook Owens' hand though Hitler refused to. The third is Jim Abbott, who became a professional baseball pitcher despite having only one arm. (The title comes from the narrator's experience of sitting behind a group of Russians at a baseball game, who wondered, "Do they have to lose an arm to pitch?") 22- year-old Shnake, who appears concurrently in Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, shows real writing talent, and Raiskup is wonderful as Brian.
The other four plays are lighter fare.
Chance member Sarah Moreau's Alpha Best, directed by Millet, is a clever experiment. At a sports bar, three guys try to pick up a waitress on a dare, but instead of hearing their actual words, we hear: "curse word," "scoff," "affirmative statement," "joyous use of profanity," "jeering homosexual suggestion," "stupid challenge," etc.
The Best Lie, by John MacDonald, directed by Abraham Celaya features a group of five friends at a high school reunion discussing, among other "bests," their best day, best lover, and most significantly, their best lie. Look-alikes Ruckman and Lacy Reinbold play the same character, Sandy, now and ten years earlier, where, at a high school dance, a lie told to the younger Sandy had a significant impact on today's Sandy.
The Mingler, by Max Espinoza, directed by Celaya, and Bitches and Cocks, by Jonathan Josephson, directed by Futterer, are significantly less successful efforts, though it is fun seeing Webster, Ruckman, and Reinbold as female dogs in workout gear and Dalton and Berlin with peacock feathers in the latter piece.
The design team is, as can be expected, first rate: set by Futterer, lighting by Masako Tobaru, sound by Mitchell Kohen, and production design by John MacDonald.
Variations on a Theme: The Best is an interesting experiment, with two especially rewarding pieces of writing, and some very good acting.
THE CHANCE THEATER: 5552 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA.
Through December 23, 2007; Saturdays @ 4:00, Sundays @ 6:00
For Information and to Purchase Tickets:
CALL: (714) 777-3033
WEBSITE: www.chancetheater.com
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THEATER REVIEW
Variations on a Theme: The Best
quotes from review in OC Register
November 29, 2007
"By looking beyond the narrow scope of the 'best' concept, the evening's finest pair of plays get at the essence of the human condition."
"Under Abraham Celaya's direction [of The Best Lie], Lacy Reinbold is flirty and appealing as the younger Sandy, and Dalton and Ruckman display the regrets of their characters over the road not taken."
"Peter Schnake's Baseball to a Russian is a well-crafted, beautifully-worded monologue given by [Chris] Raiskup as Brian, a sports fan bound in a wheelchair... Katherine Futterer directs Raiskup in such a way that we're caught up in his passionate torrent of words, as he relates tales of Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics and of seeing pitcher Jim Abbott compete at the professional level despite having only one arm. Seeing these idols, Brian tells us, has inspired him 'to try - or, at least, to dream,' and isn't that what all great theater is really all about?"
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THEATER REVIEW
Variations on a Theme: The Best
reviews on LA Times Blog
December 7, 2007
Barry
Los Angeles, CA
The evening of 6 short plays - ranging from serious to silly - was innovative and a lot of fun. The concept was innovative and interesting, and the plays and cast were first rate. I look forward to spending more time at the Chance!
December 5, 2007
Dr. Ryan
Newport Beach, CA
Wow.... What a great show. The creativity of the design, writing and production poured into the audience with every scene. The concept of how the show came about is just as interesting as the show itself. I really enjoyed the casts' energy, and their ability to bring the show to life!
November 22, 2007
Jessie
Lomita, CA
An enjoyable theatrical event filled with tons of laughter and a couple tears...and you get to vote on which one you like THE BEST. Reality Theatre!
November 18, 2007
Kat
Fullerton, CA
What a great evening of theater! I will absolutely bring all my friends back!!!!
November 18, 2007
DR
Anaheim, CA
6 different one-acts, that are each great in their own right. A fun filled theater experience that is both comedic and touching, with a versatile and talented cast.
November 18, 2007
JJ
Anaheim Hills, CA
A wonderful night of theatre! Six great short plays!!
Write your own L.A. Times review about this production.
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