By Shari Barrett
The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning acclaimed musical A Strange Loop featuring book, music, and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson and direction by Tony Award nominee Stephen Brackett took home the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical (with 11 nominations) and was named Best Musical by New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Off-Broadway Alliance. The big, Black, and queer musical’s much-anticipated Los Angeles premiere is now taking place at the Ahmanson Theatre for a limited four-week run through Sunday, June 30, direct from Broadway and the West End to San Francisco.
The musical recounts the true story of its creator, Michael R. Jackson’s life as an usher at Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway while struggling with his internal demons to achieve something more in his life. In it we meet Usher, a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer. A strange loop of a life indeed. Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher (triple-threat performer Malachi McCaskill, a junior at the University of North Carolina making his Center Theatre Group debut and destined for Broadway greatness) wrestles with the thoughts in his head, brought to life on stage by the hilariously talented, straight-shooting, and energetic multi-role playing ensemble in the order they first appear onstage: Tarra Conner Jones (Thought 1), J. Cameron Barnett (Thought 2), Avionce Hoyles (Thought 3), John-Andrew Morrison (Thought 4 who is to be commended for his portrayal of Usher’s Bible-thumping mother), Jordan Barbour (Thought 5), and Carlis Shane Clark (Thought 6). Be advised there are more F-bombs dropped than I have heard onstage before.
Director Stephen Brackett and choreographer Raja Feather Kelly are to be congratulated for the incredibly artistic, eye-catching, and thought-provoking production, with its colorful ever-moving scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, rainbow-hued lighting design by Jen Schriever, and Montana Levi Blanco’s ever-changing and color-coordinated costume design combined with Cookie Jordan’s wigs, hair and make-up. However, there was a huge problem with Drew Levy sound design which muffled most of the lyrics from being understood, even to those of us in front orchestra seats. And I heard the same was true from patrons on all levels, which robbed many of us from catching important plot elements. Music director Sean Kana conducts an enthusiastic 6-piece orchestra which sounds so much bigger than its size.
Thanks to the talented cast and crew, Michael R. Jackson’s blisteringly funny masterwork exposing the heart and soul of a young artist grappling with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes may shock many with its explicit language, references to racism, sexual assault, homophobia, HIV Stigmatization and scenes of an adult sexual nature. The show is recommended for ages 16+ and also contains strobes, flashing lights, and sudden loud noises. This company of A Strange Loop is a co-presentation between Center Theatre Group and American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco.
Tickets are available through CenterTheatreGroup.org, Audience Services at (213) 972-4400 or in person at the Center Theatre Group Box Offices (at the Ahmanson Theatre) at The Music Center, 135 N. Grand Avenue in Downtown L.A. 90012. Run time is one hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. Order your tickets ASAP before they sell out and please be open-minded to a myriad of lifestyles when you attend.
In honor of Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19 at 8 p.m., an informative after-performance talkback session with the cast and Black community leaders will be moderated by Phill Wilson, co-founder of the Dance for Life Festival and a leading figure in HIV/AIDS and Black LGBTQ+ movements. An accessible performance for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision will be held on Saturday, June 29 at 2 p.m. offering American Sign Language interpretation and audio description.
Terrence McNally debuted his comedy It’s Only a Play on Broadway in 2014 featuring an all-star cast including F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, Nathan Lane, and Megan Mullally. The smash hit takes a devilishly witty look behind the scenes at the opening night party of a play whose cast, director and producer have good reasons to be worried about its soon-to-be-published reviews. We get to be a fly on the wall, witnessing the wide range frantic antics and range of human of emotions that allow us to see our own frailties.
Knowing full well how New York opening nights go, McNally sets the quick-paced banter as alternately raucous, ridiculous, and tender. Across the two acts boasting almost as many Broadway name-drops as punch lines. Directed by Cate Caplin with a real appreciation of McNally’s wit and a keen sense of how to keep the actors moving at a pace that perfectly reflects their intense emotional turmoil, the talented cast delivered their intersecting lines with perfect comic timing, obviously knowing how important it is to both give and take with your fellow actors. And all the while, non-stop entrances, exits and laughs abounded.
It’s Only a Play takes us inside the master bedroom suite of producer Julia Budder’s luxurious Manhattan townhouse where the cast and production team are gathering, while a who’s who list of celebrities is gathering downstairs to eat and drink their way into the wee hours of the morning after the opening night of Peter Austin’s new play The Golden Egg. And the cast at Torrance Theatre Company perfectly enrapture each of their roles described in this review, dressed-to-the-nines by master Costume Designer Michael Mullen.
With his career on the line, Peter the nervous playwright (Bradley James Holzer) is excited to share his big First Night with his “best” friend James Wicker (Todd Andrew Ball), now a well-known television series star who passed on playing the lead role knowing the play would be a turkey; his novice producer Julia Budder (Jennifer Faneuff) who glides across the stage; doped-up ankle bracelet-wearing leading lady diva Virginia Noyes (curvaceous Kate Patel); furiously self-absorbed British director Frank Finger (Theodore Coonradt who commands the stage with his antics); and lethal drama critic Irene Drew (Cat Rahm) who shows up with her own hidden agenda and winds up covered in spaghetti.
All the guests are attended to by the wide-eyed innocent, fresh-off-the-bus coat check attendant Gus Head (Ronan Meade) on his first night in Manhattan. During the talkback, Meade shared this is his first play in Los Angeles after moving here to pursue his acting career. Wise move, Cate, to nab him for this role!
It’s Only a Play, Terrence McNally’s barb-filled love letter to the madness of high-stakes New York theater, continues at Torrance Theatre Company, 1316 Cabrillo Ave. in Torrance 90501 through June 22 on Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday/Saturday at 8 p.m., with Saturday/Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets via email to Gia Jordahl at GJordahl@TorranceCA.Gov or online at www.torrancetheatrecompany.com.
