SEA OF TERROR
Since I had multiple events to choose from this past week-end, I opted to see this comedic play in Hollywood only because I trusted a pal who told me it would be a good one. And…she was correct!!!
If you’ve ever been a part of a grown-up couple, or even witnessed one, you will understand just about all of the humor in Sea of Terror. And the parts that take you by surprise are even better!
(L-R) Amy Scribner, Paul Schulze, John Ales, and Julie Dretzin. Photo by Jim Cox, as is the one at the top of this review.
The play is actually about two couples, who are supposedly besties, having a social evening together. And that’s all you need to know going in. I was impressed that the quartet portrayed exactly what was going on with just a modicum of movement. The words were funny enough, and when there was a bit of moving around, it was all the more powerful.
My only criticism of the play is the title, Sea of Terror. They use it in a sentence in the show, so that explains it, but the word “terror” is why I almost passed on seeing it. Life is terrifying enough; I don’t need to see it portrayed in an entertainment. But it’s not a clue to anything about the show, so just ignore it. And definitely see this comedy while you can—the performances are very limited! [Note: My friend and I also didn’t understand the ending, but, for me, it’s always the journey that counts.]
The entire scenario reminded me so much of what I experience with Mr. X on just about a daily basis; if you’ve been reading about us in this e-zine for years, you know of a lot of our craziness. But here’s some new info which this play brought up for me: Before we moved in together, he told me that he really wanted to live with me, but not my friends. I was used to people running through my apartment at all hours, often unannounced, while no one ever even knew where he lived! So to discourage drop-ins of any kind, we bought our house on the most dangerous curve in Los Angeles! And to this day, if the doorbell rings, we run and hide. (Very mature, right?)
And even though the play’s scenario isn’t quite a “party,” (it’s rather just one couple hosting the other at their house,) it’s reminiscent of the gatherings we used to host. One year, after the first two guests had arrived for our formerly-annual Thanksgiving Eve Function, the three of us gals found-out that Mr. X had already made a batch of spaghetti that he was hiding in the microwave. He said it was “just in case” the fresh pot, that he was going to whip-up when everyone got here, ran out. We ladies were hysterical that he had been so worried about our casual get-together that he had made “emergency spaghetti!” So for Christmas, one of them gave us a humongous can of peas which she had re-labled “Emergency Peas.” (And trust me, we actually used them! We brought them to Angie Dickinson’s house the very next Thanksgiving when half of her guests were my family and friends!)
(L-R) Amy Scribner, Paul Schulze, John Ales, and Julie Dretzin. Photo by Jim Cox.
My friend Lyndsey, who’s usually too busy to accompany me anyplace but made it work to come with me to the opening of Sea of Terror, told me that she wanted to see this show because of the comedic topic and the plethora of professional credits for the actors and director. So she really enjoyed seeing them perform in person. Surprisingly, I had never seen most of the shows they’ve worked on, (save for the original 24, way back when,) so none of the actors were familiar to me. But I liked it better that way because I was able to view them as solely their characters rather than as themselves.
However, in case seeing familiar faces attracts you, here are some of their many credits: In addition to 24, highlights of Paul Schulze’s television career have been The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie. Julie Dretzin has been on Broadway and has also appeared on many TV shows including The Handmaid’s Tale, Breaking Bad, and Six Feet Under. John Ales has been featured on Euphoria. And Amy Scribner does a lot of improv around town.
Possibly the most accomplished of them all is the writer-director Sam Catlin, who has been working on this play for—wait for it—two decades!!! Perhaps it took that long because he’s been busy as an Emmy Award-winning writer and television producer on shows like Breaking Bad.
One added bonus of Sea of Terror is that it’s so short! The program says that it’s ninety minutes, but Lyndsey and I both saw it clock in at just eighty minutes, which is even better for everyone’s short attention spans these days!
The spread at the Sea of Terror after-party. Photo by Karen Salkin.
Since we saw the play on opening night, we were treated to an after-party, which was a good one. But since there will be no soiree for future audiences, this is what I suggest to all of you, which is actually as much fun: First, get to the Hudson early to either hang-out in the adjacent cute cafe or mingle out in front with the rest of the audience members for shows at that entire theatre complex. And then after the short comedy, stop by one of the many happening eateries or bars in the area to discuss what you just saw. And life itself! What a fun and hip evening that will be.
Sea of Terror running through October 29, 2023
Hudson MainStage Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood.
323-856-4249 www.onstage411.com/seaofterror
