Sorry, We're Closed by Cody Goulder
The Lex Theatre
(6760 Lexington Avenue, Hollywood 90038)
A production of the Fresh Baked Theatre Company
Date of reviewed performance: August 21, 2009
Cast
Charlie Singer - Daniel Armas
Grace - Kimi Buser
Scott - Liam Toner
Jody - Christina MacKinnon
Michael - Michael Hoag
Mickey - Dan Sykes
Frankie - Cody Goulder
Erin - Marisa Rojas
Herman - Matt Calloway
Chris Hansen - Dawn Burdue
Cody Goulder pulls triple duty as writer/director/actor in the Fresh Baked Theatre Company's inaugural production, Sorry, We're Closed. Although the theatre company is brand new, many faces (Daniel Armas, Matt Calloway, Christina MacKinnon) will be familiar to those who frequent the Hollywood and North Hollywood regional theater scene.
The play takes place entirely inside Chelsea's Bar in Chicago's South Side. The cold weather outside is a mirror for the wintry economic climate that has settled over Chicago, leaving many once strong businesses struggling. Charlie Singer, the owner and bartender (Daniel Armas), is a likable man with a soft heart. In his concern for his customers he extends tabs and accepts rain checks in lieu of actual payment. His business is suffering, but he seems resigned to let the old pub go under in it's natural time. That time comes sooner than expected when Chris Hansen (Dawn Burdue), no relation to the To Catch a Predator host, appears on the scene to buy Singer out of all of his problems. Will the bar remain open despite the change in ownership, or will it be bulldozed to make way for a yogurt bar? That remains to be seen - but the times, they are a-changin' and eventually everyone in the bar comes to realize it.
Of course, the barflies have troubles of their own. Erin (Marisa Rojas) creates a haphazard love triangle when she gets drunk and leaves with spoiled brat Mickey over her old friends with benefits Frankie. Scott, who came into the bar to drink away his divorce, wanders into a triangle of his own between Jody (Christina MacKinnon) and her secret-admirer. As the group sort out their love lives, they come to find that true value lies in friendship and loyalty.
Daniel Armas does a wonderful job playing Charlie Singer with multiple levels of internal and external sympathies. Christina MacKinnon is wonderful in her interplay with Liam Toner's Scott. Michael Hoag also does a fantastic job as the overlooked secret-suitor. He and Liam also have some hilarious moments in their initial confrontation. Matt Calloway gets to do some fun stage business as he moves around the bar that is reminiscent of Tim Conway in his glory days.
The show continuously shifts gears between bar room antics and self-exploration, and within those gear changes lie slow moments where the show loses most of its energy. The result feels like a strong one-act has been padded with dialogue into two acts that are uneven. But for the first time out with a brand new theatre company mounting an entirely original show, it is certainly worth the price of admission: $15 ($12 students/seniors). The show runs Fridays-Sundays through August 30th.
Sorry We're Closed:
