Saturday, February 21, 2015

Monday, February 9, 2015

The Hilarious Clean Start @ Casa 0101

Boyle Heights' award winning theatre company Casa 0101 kicks off their 15th Quinceanera season with flare with the hysterically funny Clean Start a great new show written by Kathy Fischer & Josefina Lopez (Real Women Have Curves).  Kathy Fischer also very ably directs.  The laugh fest features the colorful talented cast of Kim Chase, Ingrid Oliu, Maria Russell, Marina Gonzalez Palmier & Robert Jekabson & tells the story of a destitute Beverly Hills matron Parker Reed (a very funny Kim Chase) who moves in with her very loyal level headed Latina maid  Rosario Rodriguez (the very likable Ingrid Oliu) who lives in East L.A. with her sexy immature sister Blanca Rodriguez (the hilarious Maria Russell) & her smart ass old school mom Dona Maria Rodriguez  (the equally hilarious Marina Gonzalez Palmier).   Robert Jekabson also appears in the supporting role of  Polish immigrant Vladimir the neighbor/handyman who man crazy Blanca has the hots for & does a very nice job.  Besides being very funny the storyline also featured some poignant life lessons as well.  The charismatic performers have great comedic timing & energy so be sure to see Clean Start this weekend when it finishes it's 3 week run.  Kudos to dancing/prancing stagehands Catalina Adragna & Julius Bronola who score laughs while changing sets.  Show times are as follows:  Friday February 13 at 8pm, Saturday February 14 at 3pm & 8pm & Sunday February 15 at 5pm & 8pm.  Definitely worth checking out & if you don't feel like driving Casa 0101 is a quick 7 minute walk from the Mariachi Gold Line station.   Visit  www.casa0101.org for more information.  Highly recommended!  HH






Saturday, February 7, 2015

Dick Cavett Stars in Hellman V. McCarthy... Theatre 40

A fun nite at the Theatre 40 opening of Hellman v. McCarthy starring TV legend Dick Cavett as himself, Flora Plumb as literary great Lillian Hellman & Marcia Rodd as her tongue wagging nemesis writer/critic Mary McCarthy.  The interesting & very entertaining play based on true facts includes what if fantasy scenes & is well written by Brian Richard Mori & well directed by Howard Storm.  Back in 1980 when Dick Cavett was hosting a show on PBS Mary McCarthy appeared and made provocative & insulting comments about Lillian Hellman which included "everything she writes is a lie including and & the".  Unfortunately for her the very wealthy Lillian Hellman was watching the episode and went on to sue the less successful Mary McCarthy which almost bankrupted her.  The fast moving 90 minute play is performed without intermission rehashing the famous lawsuit with great performances from Cavett, Plumb & Rodd plus great work by M. Rowan Meyer as Hellman's put upon caregiver and Martin Thompson & John Combs as legal counsel.  Cavett, Meyer & Rodd reprise their performances from their off Broadway run last year.  Hellman v. McCarthy plays til February 28 followed by a special performance at the Saban Theatre on March 1.  For more information  visit www.theatre40.org - Highly recommended!  Kudos to producer David Hunt Stafford on this excellent production!  Enjoy...  HH

pictures soon