The Narcissist Next Door (Photos – Réchard François)
For your consideration: a couple of theaters and events a bit beyond the Pasadena/Altadena/South Pasadena borders, but which are worth the drive (and easy to get to if you use the Forest Lawn/Barham/Cahuenga route rather than the 101) and offer a variety of entertainment.
By Carol Edger Germain
- Hollywood Fringe Festival – happening in various small theaters in Hollywood through June 30.
An annual, open-access, community-derived event celebrating freedom of expression and collaboration in the performing arts community. Each June fully equipped theaters, parks, clubs, churches, restaurants and other unexpected places host hundreds of productions by local, national, and international arts companies and independent performers. Click to see what’s happening during the remaining 20 days.
“The Narcissist Next Door”
Last week I saw, and recommend, “The Narcissist Next Door” at the Dorie Theater, one of the several small spaces at The Complex, 6476 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood. Close friends Sebastian (Michael Nardelli) and Kate (Kincaid Walker) have been going through some tumultuous times and share their hopes and frustrations with each other while hanging out at Sebastian’s apartment. Sebastian’s photography career is going nowhere (not that it needs to go anywhere financially, since he’s independently wealthy due to being a descendant of the “inventor” of the frozen fish stick), and Kate has been through a series of failed relationships. Ahh….so tough being young, beautiful, and wealthy (but seriously, the characters are quite authentic and sympathetic). Then in pops Tony (Luca Malacrino), the self-absorbed, overbearing, narcissistic new neighbor whose motto is apparently “your home is my home,” with wise (in his opinion) but wacky advice and instruction on an ancient Peruvian self-help therapy, “The Source,” that will surely show them the way to happiness. And perhaps it worked because voila! – a new boyfriend for Kate joins the mix (Réchard Fra), whose dry wit adds another flavor to the conversational stew, and lo and behold, Sebastian lands a gig doing a photoshoot with Charo Vergara (Sofia’s hotter sister, campily played by Maggie Miguel). The action suddenly shifts to Mexico, where things go really off the rails, involving masked bandits and other dilemmas.
Actually, the Mexico chapter wasn’t necessary, the play was satisfying and evenly funny and enjoyable until then, and the length was just right, but because I liked the characters I enjoyed the final scene as well. Written by Ellen Buckley and directed by Susan Dalian.
The Narcissist Next Door
• Written by Ellen Buckley
• Directed by Susan Dalian
Cast: Luca Malacrino, Kincaid Walker, Micheal Nardelli, Réchard François, Bryce Harrow, Robert Harrow, Dawn Joyal, and Maggie Miguel
Dorie Theater @The Complex Hollywood
6476 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A., CA 90038
• Until June 29
• Tickets $15 (some discount tickets available at Goldstar.com)
• Purchase tickets here.
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- John Anson Ford Amphitheater – a.k.a. the “mini-Hollywood Bowl.”
Remodeled a year ago, is a beautiful outdoor space. The early 1900’s arches and the open hillside as the “back wall” of the stage were retained, it still has the same ambiance, but renewed infrastructure and a major expansion of the picnic table areas. Another exciting, eclectic, kid-friendly (free events for kids on some Saturdays), musical, dramatic, etc. etc. calendar is up and tickets are available. (Discount tickets are also available for many of the events at Goldstar.com).
“Last Whispers, Oratorio for Vanishing Voices, Collapsing Universes and a Falling Tree”
Last week I saw “Last Whispers, Oratorio for Vanishing Voices, Collapsing Universes and a Falling Tree” (it was a one-time event, no future showings, but it’s a good example of some of the more eclectic events happening at the Ford). Conceived, directed, and produced by Lena Herzog, it was a multi-media presentation based on studies of the vanishing languages of the earth (currently only about 30 of the 7000 languages of the earth are spoken, and more are continually vanishing). Marc Capalbo and Mark Mangini were responsible for the sound design, presenting in 7.1 surround sound recordings in spoken word as well as song, treating us to perhaps the last recordings of some of the languages were interwoven with visual images on a giant screen with images presenting a drifting and dreaming mood of traveling slowly through trees, viewing land and islands, and listening to recordings of collapsing stars and supernovae recorded by LIGO “The Listening Ear” (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory supported by the National Science Foundation and Operated by Caltech and MIT).
This presentation was the most esoteric event I’ve seen at the Ford, but as mentioned above, the variety and range of interests incorporated in the Ford’s entertaining schedule is quite amazing, and there’s something for everyone, with the beautiful outdoors the constant accompaniment to all productions.
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