Though several snippets of the scenario make no sense, (the same can be said of some of the casting,) it’s a cute enough play, and makes for a fun evening of theatre.<\/p>\n
![\"Love](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/rsz_img_2390-e1448307329511.jpg\")
<\/a>Love this set!!! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
As usual with Theatre 40, I have to first laud the stunning set.\u00a0 I can’t tell you how impressed I am with the ever-changing designs they’re able to accomplish on that stage, always by Jeff G. Rack. I’d love to see that guy’s house<\/em>!<\/p>\n Perfect Timing<\/em> is one of those comedic English farces, but it’s written by an American. Maybe that’s why it’s just missing a bit of something; I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. But there are<\/em> a lot of laughs, and we’re never sure just what’s about to happen, which is a good thing. And my friend found it to be charming. [Note: You know that, unlike other reviewers, I don’t tell you the story of the shows I’m reviewing, so that you can have your own<\/em> experience of it. I’m just giving you my<\/em> yin and yang of it.]<\/p>\n But the play needs a time frame.\u00a0 All it says in the program is, “The time is before cell phones and internet.”\u00a0 That could be any<\/em> time before the mid-nineties, so we need a tad more info.\u00a0 The wardrobe doesn’t really help us narrow it done, either, except that it isn’t too too long ago. All<\/em> of the attire actually looks quite modern, which is confusing. [Note: I always read my programs after<\/em> the shows, to not be influenced by anything during the performances, and, when I read this one the next day, I found-out that the play was written in 1981. It would help if it stated that in the \u201cSetting.\u201d So, at least I’m<\/em> letting you know that before you<\/em> see it.]<\/p>\n Christine Joelle, Shawn Savage, Martin Thompson, and Helen Anker. Photo by Ed Krieger.<\/p><\/div>\n The lead, Helen Anker, is excellent, but I feel for her–it must be a bit of a hard task to work with some of the other actors.\u00a0 She and her leading man, Martin Thompson, (whose program bio is refreshingly amusing,) just seem so much more professional than the rest.<\/p>\n While I really appreciate the very different-looking (in a good way) characters, some of the actors just don’t work. The three other males are well-cast, but, as much as I hate to say it, the two other auxiliary females, Aly Fainbarg (who looks like a cross between Sasha Cohen and Snooki, which is<\/em> interesting casting because you don’t usually see someone who looks that exotic in a play,)\u00a0and Sarah Kaidanow (who looks a bit like Tanya Harding; or maybe I just have figure skating on the brain,) are especially weak links. They both over-do it quite a bit, the fault of which could possibly lie in the directing or writing. (I think the show may have changed directors mid-stream, but I don’t know for sure.)<\/p>\n The most confusing choice for me is Christine Joelle as the lead’s assistant (or something\u2014I couldn’t really tell who she was supposed to be.) She’s so wrong for the part, and was totally mis-cast.\u00a0 I could see having the role if this was a college production and therefore, there were only a few actresses to choose from, but in all of Los Angeles, there had to be many people better fit for the role.<\/p>\n Martin Thompson, Shawn Savage, Helen Anker, Christine Joelle, and Dennis Gersten. This pic does not do that blue dress justice! Photo by Ed Krieger.<\/p><\/div>\n And Christine’s ill-fitting wardrobe was inexplicable.\u00a0 As soon as she appeared in those strange, low-slung man pants, I assumed that meant the narrative called for them to dress her up later on, throw away her glasses, and take her hair down, and that that would be the main part of the story.\u00a0 But that was far from it.\u00a0 At one point, she did<\/em> wear a dress and take her hair down, but for no reason, and to no effect.\u00a0 Her part of that act made no sense.\u00a0 (Once again, I don’t know if that was in the writing, the directing, or the acting. But it didn’t work, and was actually distracting.)<\/p>\n Conversely in the wardrobe department, the dress that Helen Anker wears in Act II is gorgeous! And fits her perfectly! You see–I also give props where they’re due. And I love telling you that she has absolutely no back fat!\u00a0 I’ve rarely seen anything like it! Kudos to her. She must have been a dancer.\u00a0 (Her ever-pointed toes told me that also.\u00a0Loved them!)\u00a0 [Note: I wrote all that before I read her bio in the program; it states that she started out doing ballet! I love being right.]<\/p>\n In a cute touch, the two female stagehands are dressed as maids, so when they clear the table between scenes, it looks like a legitimate part of the act. Lovely.<\/p>\n So, despite my few criticisms, I recommend that you see Perfect Timing<\/em> while you can. It’s fun, entertaining, and easy to watch. And Theatre 40 has no bad seats. And there’s free parking right underneath! The holiday season is the perfect timing<\/em> for all of that!<\/p>\n Perfect Timing<\/em> running through December 20, 2015<\/strong> PERFECT TIMING Theatre 40 in Beverly Hills has another winner. This one may not be a perfect production, but Perfect Timing is one I can totally recommend. Though several snippets of the scenario make no sense, (the same can be said of some of the casting,) it’s a cute enough play, and makes for a<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
\n Theatre 40 \u00a0241 S. Moreno Drive \u00a0Beverly Hills \u00a0310-364-0535 \u00a0www.theatre40.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"