THE GODDAMN COUPLE DOWN THE HALL (OH… AND MERRY CHRISTMAS)
I am so glad that I opted for an easy-going Sunday afternoon of joining my friends for a matinee of The Goddamn Couple Down the Hall (Oh… and Merry Christmas) at Theatre West last week-end. It was the most fun show I’ve seen in a long while. I laughed the entire time. It’s one of the few shows I would actually be happy to see again!
Jill Remez, John Combs,and Sam Gregory. Photo by Charlie Mount. (The photo at the top of this review is by Karen Salkin.)
It’s just about the perfect play, on every level, especially for this time of year! It’s just in time for the holidays, to make us feel better about our own Christmases. And families! (I thought my siblings were bad, but…actually I still do!)
Even though The Goddamn Couple Down the Hall (Oh… and Merry Christmas) tells the story of one family’s Christmas day, there’s actually much more to the scenario than just family squabbles, but I’ll leave that for you to discover on your own. I promise you that is all you need to know going in; any more description might ruin it for you.
For you Grey’s Anatomy fans, The Goddamn Couple Down the Hall (Oh… and Merry Christmas) was written by the extremely accomplished Mark Wilding, an executive producer and writer on that TV series, (which I’ve tried to watch a few times, and truly cannot understand the attraction of it.) Of the sixteen shows that the play program lists as Mark’s credits, I’ve seen only a single other one—a very obscure and serious series about a Mexican family in America, which was cancelled way before I was through with it! But after this play, I think he needs to write only sitcoms from now on!
The production is amusing right from the get-go. And it got even better for me when Dave Kumar, a gorgeous and comedic guy, showed up. I almost moved to the front row to see him even better! (And, shamefully, I’m not kidding.) I turn down a lot of invitations to review shows, but in this case, all they would have needed to do was send me a picture of Dave, and I would’ve been there immediately. No lie. So he was a very fun surprise—a television series needs to gobble, I mean grab, him up pronto!
(L-R) Sam Gregory, Dave Kumar, Liv Denevi, Jill Remez, Cecil Jennings, and Steve Nevil. Photo by Charlie Mount.
I was also happy to see Cecil Jennings, (who plays the husband in the couple who is hosting this shindig,) at Theatre West again. He had been the only actor who made me laugh at a previous production there, and, as I wrote then, “His delivery is spot-on.”
Actually, the casting is excellent all around. Every one of the eight (plus one unseen voice) actors is exemplary. They’re all funny in the subtle way that this script requires. I love that no one ruins the ensemble by going over the top.
The set by Jeff G. Rack, who seems to design all my favorite sets around town, is also ideal. It’s easy to see everything happening on it from any seat in that comfortable theatre. (I think Mr. X and I need Jeff to come to our house and make it look like one of his sets!)
The cast’s wardrobe is pretty on the money, as well. [Note: Most of it is different than in these pix.]
Presciliana Esparolini, Liv Denevi, and Cecil Jennings. Photo by Charlie Mount.
The only weak part of the entire presentation is that complicated title! I dislike it so much, in fact, that I almost let it put me off seeing the show. Please don’t let it do that for you; I’m seriously recommending it!
So if you’d enjoy some hearty laughs, and just some excellent entertainment, not to mention to feel grateful for your own lives, Theatre West is the place to be for the next month. Do not miss this one!
The Goddamn Couple Down the Hall (Oh… and Merry Christmas) running until December 15, 2024
Theatre West 3333 Cahuenga Boulevard West
323-851-7977 www.theatrewest.org
