REVISITING WILDFIRE

I very rarely review little theatre productions anymore, not because they’re usually not great, (which is a true statement,) but because I just don’t have that kind-of time in my life. But my friend, Vanessa, knew the director of this one at the Odyssey, so we went to the opening last week-end.

I’m not a great judge of this two-character play because as many of you know by now, I’m not a fan of one-person shows, unless it’s the brilliant Dale Gonyea, or the late comic genius Dick Shawn, whose iconic one-man show is still to this day on my short list of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed.

And two-people plays come next as the kind of show that are rarely up my alley. So, I’m not the best judge of Revisiting Wildfire as a production. Vanessa said she was happy to see portrayals of strong women, and she’s a psychologist, so she should know! At least I can share my thoughts on the ying and yang of it.

I can’t really tell you much about the story itself because, as it’s not too long, I would be giving away the action. What I can tell you is that it’s about two female friends in their fifties who haven’t seen each other in awhile. I wish I had read the description beforehand myself because, since the women appear to not be the same age, I was confused as to the relationship for about the first third of the show. Then, it turns out that the older-looking one has grown kids in the play, so that could explain the difference in appearance, if that’s what the casting person was going for. As those of us who were smart enough to not have children know, being a mother really ages a woman. Yay!

While in all honesty I have to say that the story itself wasn’t of interest to me, there are several positives to the production. First of all, I loved the set, designed by Elisha Schaefer. I’m partial to New York apartments, having been a guest to so many of my friends there, and this looked exactly right to my trained eye in that category.

Secondly, the theatre itself is really comfortable, seating-, temperature-, and visibility-wise. The edifice is pretty good, as well, with a big lobby with seats and a snack bar, and an outside patio with tables. The neighborhood parking is easy, too, if you don’t want to pay the small fee to park in their lot.

And tickets are just a little more than a movie on a week-end night. Couple that with the one hour fifteen minute running time, and this show is a classier date than a crowded movie theatre, and conveniently fits in before or after dinner at one of the many near-by eateries.

And for those of you who were around in the seventies and watched TV then, both actresses were featured on prime-time shows in that era. I’ve never seen either, so I can’t really give you a lot of info on them, except to tell you the names of the women. Denise Crosby, whois a granddaughter of Bing Crosby, and has an adorable teen-age son I chatted with at the opening night reception, was on one of the Star Trek incarnations (so Trekkies would love to see her,) and Jamie Rose was on Falcon Crest, which I understand to be one of the original prime-time soaps. (They have tons of other acting credits, too; these are just the most known.) It was good to see trained, long-time successful actresses on in a small theatre production, rather than the usual trying-too-hard newcomers-to-the-industry over-acting their ways through a play.

Most of the shows I attend nowadays have all young casts and sensibilities, and occasionally, I hear more mature audience members grumble about the lack of something they’d be interested in. So, I think that Revisiting Wildfire would be perfect for them. They might be able to identify with the premise and I’m sure some of them would love to see these women in person.

I don’t think that I’m ruining anything to tell you that the title refers to the nostalgic song Wildfire, by Michael Martin Murphey, which I’m sure everyone will know. (In the show, they incorrectly classify it as “pop” and “cheese,” both of which are a great disservice to a beloved adult contemporary/country/folk classic. Or maybe songs like this were considered “pop,” waaaay back in the day, but not to the songwriters.) I actually saw him sing it in person in Santa Fe when I was much younger, and it is indeed haunting. The author must have thought so, as well, to have centered her play around it. And I bet that she can’t can’t get the tune out of her head, either.

Revisiting Wildfire running through July 31, 2011
Odyssey Theatre 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. 310-477-2055