Bad Connections?by Michael Levesque
The People's Theater
at Bravo Cucina (upstairs)
(1319 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica 90401)
A production of The People's Theater
Date of reviewed performance: January 20, 2010
Cast
Paul Cosentino
One actor. Ninety minutes. More than half a dozen characters. That is the frame in which Paul Cosentino works in this new, original play by Michael Levesque.
The play's opening character is a guru, which Mr. Cosentino plays in such a charming, genial manner that you find yourself obeying his instructions before remembering that he's not actually talking to you. From there, we embark on a circuitous journey made up of what initally seems to be random characters included primarily due to their differences. But these characters have more to say than even they are aware. By the end Mr. Cosentino has given us birth, death and (most importantly) relationships built on an intricate series of made and missed connections.
He has a fantastic ability to move effortlessly between characters, which is most impressive when the characters appear in dialogue together in the same scenes. Early scenes, which allow the audience to get to know the characters as they have a series of telephone conversations, feel like detours until you realize that you are constantly being fed clues to the main story. If there are moments in the dialogue that feel contrived for the sake of throwing in a few one-liners, they are nevertheless rewarding. One thing that the characters have in common is humor through self-deprecation; the laughter comes often and in unexpected places.
This is a new play, which is still being workshopped to some extent. To that end, there is a talk-back session between Mr. Cosentino, director Dana Koellner and the audience for a few minutes directly following the performance. If you can stay for this, please do as it's fascinating to learn about the process of both the writer and actor in refining a work as well as hearing from other audience members about their own impressions of specific scenes.
Bad Connections? is an exclusive engagement limited to performances on January 20 and 21st. Tickets are $10 cash at the door ($15 for first row). The ticket price does not include dinner. For reservations, please visit http://www.thepeoplestheater.com/ .
If you are unable to make it out tonight for this very limited run please make note for March 3,4, 10 &11th, when The People's Theater will be producing Italian American Reconciliation also at Bravo Cucina.
Directed by Dana Koellner
Bad Connections?:
