First, just a note about Greenway Court – Greenway Court was initially built by Fairfax High School students in 1939 as a class project and used as a Social Hall by both students and faculty. It sat virtually unused for many years until it was finally renovated into a professional 99-seat theatre by Greenway Arts Alliance in 2000, to benefit both the school and the surrounding community. It’s an interesting building and historical area of LA (Fairfax and Melrose), lots to explore in the area, including Melrose Trading Post in the parking lot of the high school next door on Sundays.
~ Carol
J-Walt Adamczyck, Zack Davidson and Marguerite French in Paradise Lost: Reclaiming Destiny at Greenway Court Theatre (Photo – Anthony Roldan)
It was well worth going “west of La Brea” (usually my limit of how far west I will go for entertainment) for this dazzling performance.
By Carol Edger Germain
Paradise Lost: Reclaiming Destiny (Photo – Anthony Roldan).
Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble has combined dance, music, clever lighting and backdrops, live digital animation effects, and acrobatics (but no dialogue!) for a very creative, dynamic, bright and colorful interpretation of Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” and they have created something very special indeed.
They’ve also added a feminist twist on the temptation sequence as well as other interactions, subtly balancing the male/female power structure of this literary classic. From start to finish the story is told with powerful physical performances, with every character sustaining the intense and stimulating assault on the senses as we devour the whole story. As the angels and demons battle it out for control of emerging humanity, the creation of the universe and the Garden of Eden are portrayed around them with innovative techniques. The live digital animation is fascinating, I have not seen anything like it, and the original music contributes to the forceful, heart-pounding experience. The only visual or physical effect I could think of to add would be to munch on an apple while watching it!
The drama of characters flying through the air, climbing walls, tossing each other rhythmically, intimately connecting, coming into the aisles a bit, hanging off the edge of the stage (we were in the front row, had to pull our feet back a bit) really immersed the audience in the physicality of the performance.
The curtain call is unique as well. The characters change their costumes a bit, but I’m not going to spoil the effect.
Two more weekends of performances – work this into your schedule if at all possible, you will see some unique effects which without doubt will be adapted by other artists in future productions.
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