![\"Jackie](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/1_Q113.jpg\")
<\/a>Jackie Chung and Dan Bucatinsky. Photo by Craig Schwartz, as is the big one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n
But there\u2019s so much more to it than that, both yay and nay. So, let\u2019s discuss it all, shall we?<\/p>\n
I was trying to describe the storyline to someone the day after the opening, and after his hundredth, \u201cHuh?,\u201d I realized that this tale is just way too muddled. By being about sooo many popular issues rolled into one, it loses some of whatever focus it is trying to have. There are several surprises that come out in the scenario, but when I<\/em> saw them, I was at a loss for how to react. \u00a0Each time I thought, \u201cIs this the end? \u00a0Or just a big curve?\u201d What should<\/em> be the major plot points seem to lose some impact among the many.<\/p>\n I thought this is a good place to show you that my Halloween nails matched Quack’s banners and program! Photo of Karen Salkin’s hand by…Karen Salkin’s other hand!<\/p><\/div>\n There\u2019s so much to say about this new play, some of which I can best explain with analogies from my own<\/em> life. (There\u2019s<\/em> a surprise, eh?) Here\u2019s one: When Mr. X was starring in the National Tour of a Broadway musical in Toronto, we rented a yacht for a fabulous party with the entire cast and crew (and musicians<\/em>, who were shocked that someone actually included them in a soiree!!! Shame. But that\u2019s another story.) The cruise was due to be, just like in Gilligan\u2019s Island<\/em>, a three-hour tour, but when the uber-generous Mr. X said, \u201cLet\u2019s go for an extra hour!,\u201d the entire assemblage\u00a0was thrilled and enthusiastic, and partied and danced even harder.\u00a0 So, after that<\/em> one, with the gang still into it, he opted for yet another<\/em> hour, which seemed to make everybody happy. But then a few people asked to go back to shore to get off, because of one commitment or another.\u00a0 By the time we docked, everyone<\/em> limped off.\u00a0 It had been enough of a good thing already. And that’s how many of us in the opening night audience felt about Quack<\/em>–it was a fun journey for awhile, until\u00a0it went waaaay too long.<\/p>\n Shoniqua Shandai and Dan Bucatinsky. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n At just about two hours in a row, this show really<\/em> needs an intermission. There\u2019s a natural spot for it, too, right after the first hour.\u00a0 I really don\u2019t understand why it doesn\u2019t have one. It\u2019s engaging enough for those first sixty minutes, so there\u2019s no need to hold the audience hostage, as I feel some intermission-less shows do; I doubt that anyone would leave Quack<\/em> before Act II, if there was one.<\/p>\n The setting is the office of a TV doctor, and tells of a behind-the-scenes situation that has arisen before the play begins. I had never watched doctors-supposedly-helping-people shows like the one portrayed here until about a month ago, when I put the TV on for some afternoon baseball, and before I could change the channel, creepy Dr. Phil<\/em> was on.\u00a0 Since everything about him makes my skin crawl, I, of course, had not watched his show.\u00a0 (And also because I have no time for that nonsense.\u00a0 Who does<\/em>?! I want names.) But what was on my screen was so riveting, in a car crash kind of way, that I could not look away.\u00a0 And, since I was \u201clive,\u201d (meaning I had to watch the commercials\u2014ugh,) I had to see the ads for what was coming up in the next week.\u00a0 And I was, shamefully, hooked.\u00a0 And now I\u2019ve even roped Mr. X into this drivel on occasion.<\/p>\n (L-R) Dan Bucatinsky, Shoniqua Shandai and Jessalyn Gilsig. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n So, even though the TV doc at the center of this<\/em> narrative is more akin to Dr. Oz<\/em> than Dr. Phil<\/em>, (because he gives medical<\/em> advice, not just psychological<\/em>,) I understood the basic premise of Quack<\/em>, before it gets bogged-down in contending with way too many societal subjects for one theatre piece.<\/p>\n That being said, it does<\/em> touch on many important, timely, relevant issues–the wellness community, gender inequality, getting way too much money to hawk products that may or may not deliver on their promise, the out-of-control power of social media, fat-shaming, and fraud (in several senses.) It even hits, for a brief second, on personal consent. Because of trying to get all these topics in there, Quack<\/em> is not exactly<\/em> the laugh riot that it almost<\/em>\u00a0is.<\/p>\n Dan Bucatinsky and Nicholas D\u2019Agosto. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n But on the flip side, it does provide plenty of food for thought: to vaccinate or not, the war of the sexes, the role of money versus principles, how words and thoughts and intentions can get twisted in the press,* and so much more. *[Note: Unfortunately, I know first-hand how the press can bend things for their own purposes\u2014when I was first seeing Mr. X, it was big gossip news, which was a shock to me. And the things that the rags printed about us were just crazy! All our own<\/em> words were re-interpreted to make the best story for the public. So that<\/em> part of this tale rings so<\/em> true!]<\/p>\n The good news is that this is the World Premiere <\/em>of Quack<\/em>, so hopefully playwright Eliza Clark can trim some of the fat, (a major topic of the play,) along the future road.<\/p>\n Jessalyn Gilsig and Jackie Chung. Photo by Craig Schwartz.<\/p><\/div>\n And there really are plenty of laughs in this show. Especially when Jessalyn Gilsig, as the doctor\u2019s harsh wife, comes into the picture. But she\u2019s not on stage often enough, having just a couple of scenes. Her character showing-up gives the play quite a spark, but that means that it all goes sort-of flat when she exits. The weird thing for me is that I barely noticed her on Glee<\/em>.\u00a0 And I watched every episode (until Cory Monteith died, that is. Then I just couldn’t do it anymore.) So her comedic chops were a very pleasant surprise in Quack<\/em>.<\/p>\n Having never seen Scandal<\/em>, (well, I did<\/em> try the pilot, but could not get past even a half hour of that annoying-ness,) I was not familiar with Quack<\/em> star, Dan Bucatinsky, who I\u2019m sure will be a big attraction to audiences here. But Sean Hayes had actually introduced us at an opening of a show at the Ahmanson about two years ago, and Dan seemed nice. So I was happy to see him work, as I\u2019m sure all of LA will be.<\/p>\n The fabulous set! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n As I took my seat, I became an instant fan of this fabulous set, designed by Dane Laffrey; it’s the best one I\u2019ve ever seen at the Douglas, bar none! And it gets even better as the play goes on. I kept wondering how they were changing little parts of the office so quickly between scenes, and then I realized the set is on a turntable, which I did not know was possible in so intimate a theatre. And it\u2019s the quietest, smoothest turntable I\u2019ve ever seen in any <\/em>theater anywhere<\/em>. It\u2019s just wonderful. I give major kudos to Dane and the crew for this really impressive work.<\/p>\n I also give props to the playwright for having the characters mention that a couple of children died from not getting the measles vaccine. As a former teacher, (and just a person,) I feel that getting children vaccinated is of the utmost importance. But that\u2019s a whole other topic for another time.<\/p>\n Look at this beautiful edifice! Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n And now, I want to take this opportunity to laud the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, in general. I always enjoy going there; it\u2019s so casual and comfortable. It\u2019s the most relaxing theatre experience in all of LA!\u00a0 My friend that night had never been there before, and he loved it, too, even from the outside. He was as impressed as I am by just how beautiful the exterior is from afar.<\/p>\n And their opening nights always feature fun fetes post-performance, a tradition that was continued for Quack<\/em>. The food that was passed by lovely servers was generous and delicious, and we had an extra treat on the way out\u2014a gelato bar right by the door! (Good thing my diet is not starting until today<\/em>! I\u2019ll tell you the shallow reason in January, which is a clue right there.)<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The upbeat crowd, including a few celebrities you\u2019ll read about in my next Celeb Sightings<\/em> column, seemed to be having a blast, mingling away and discussing all the heady topics that are brought up in this play.<\/p>\n So, even with those few concerns that I have with the show, I still recommend seeing Quack<\/em>. Just maybe go rocking\u2019 a pair of Depends for the duration.<\/p>\n Quack<\/em>\u00a0running through November 18, 2018<\/strong> QUACK I could just tell you that Quack, the comedic play running right now at the Douglas in Culver City, is definitely entertaining and intelligent, and features cast members from the famous former TV shows Scandal and Glee. And that should be enough to suggest you see it. But there\u2019s so much more to it<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Kirk Douglas Theatre\u00a0 9820 Washington Blvd. Culver City \u00a0www.centertheatregroup.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"