I went to review The Sweepers, at the International City Theater in Long Beach and my first thought came about fifteen minutes into the play. “Why does this play exist?” It was a miracle my mind was quiet for that long. But I realized later it was hard at work for those fifteen minutes. It was searching for something while I was dumbly enjoying the pretty set. I dismissed the buzzing fly that was my mind several times before I began to swat at it (internally of course). Another part of my mind said “Listen to the part the you’re about to swat.” I swear all this went on in my head. I thought I better listen to both of these thoughts because maybe my mind was trying to communicate with me (duh). Like a game. It asks a question and I have to find the answer. The cumulative effect of this game would be that I had an interesting experience. Some doctor’s might categorize that as schizophrenic or something else along the lines of mental illness. I like my mind so doctor’s be damned, I decided to trust it and play the game.

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It’s always interesting to be reminded of what you ignore everyday. It’s also interesting to look at how in a world full of revolving technology, humans have not changed. It appears that everyone is searching for their own way to live a “normal” life. As such, there are many comforts in life that allow people to trust the powers at be, but at what point are our own “comforts” detrimental to us? Tim Robbin’s version of George Orwell’s, 1984, currently playing at the REDCAT, is unshakably relevant. Days after seeing the play adapted from George Orwell’s “1984″ by Micheal Gene Sullivan, it continues to creep under my skin.

From the word play, the coercion, and blind faith - you can see how this work was relevant in 1948, is relevant today, and unless something huge happens, for our foreseeable future. For those of you who may not know, 1984 is where the idea “ignorance is strength” or rather “ignorance is bliss” was capitalized. Where “Happiness can exist only in acceptance.” Think you’re not a victim of this? Think again. It is used every single day in our vocabulary.

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What’s the best way to pound pelvis? In Heat doesn’t answer that question but rather hints that that specific part of the body needs a lot of pounding. That joke is the only common thread between the four, one-acts that comprise this light hearted play. Call me overly passionate or whatever you want to call me but I like a thread of something meaty in a play. Even in comedy there has to be something crackling under the cheap one liners and quirky situations for it to stick with us. This play and it’s all star cast kind of crackle for me. But despite my laughter it was missing something…

Carbs features Robin Thomas and Rebecca Klingler. Like the rest of the cast these two have impressive credits. So impressive that I stopped reading their bio’s because it made me feel inadequate as an actor. Call me another name, but I never really understood why one would include a bio in a play they’re doing. I like the feeling of not knowing who someone is outside the distilled experience of watching them in front of my own two eyes. That way as an actor you can never rely on your past work, you’re forced to bring the pain to each and every audience member. Not that these two phoned in their performances, that wasn’t the case at all. I just like figures appearing from the dark for my eyes and ears to feast on without wondering if I saw them in the movie that’s listed in their credits.

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In 2006, Tim Robbins and the L.A. based theatre company The Actors’ Gang debuted a stage adaptation of Orwell’s groundbreaking work by Michael Gene Sullivan. The show has seen productions worldwide and on June 17^th it returns to the West Coast for a limited three-week engagement at REDCAT.

Robbins is a stand-out performer in drama (The Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River) and comedy (Bull Durham, The Hudsucker Proxy, and recently Noise), with critically acclaimed turns as writer-director (Bob Roberts, Dead Man Walking), but his career began onstage. He was one of the founding members of The Actors’ Gang and currently serves on the board as Artistic Director.

Now Mr. Robbins talks with LA.CityZine about the challenge of translating “1984″ live, his role in the process, and why Orwell’s message is as critical now as when it was first printed nearly 60 years ago.

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Gordon James has a captivating presence from the moment he walks out on stage. His booming voice proclaims, “Life is Love. Love is Universal. This could be anyone. Outbursts me. Outbursts you.” And so begins our journey as James is embodied by seventeen different “spirits” that use his body, voice, movement and expressions to share with us a “burst” of their life. A moment in which the universal theme is the search for love…a love the could be a yearning for sex, friendship, trust, lust, companionship and even perhaps just being the preferred cab fare.

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I was never a huge fan of health class (yes, I faint at the sight of blood) and I was raised hard core Catholic where I was never even aloud to swear let alone talk about STD’s. I had rebelled during my college years and performed in The Vagina Monologues, so how shocking would be a show called Herpes Tonight be?
I knew nothing about the show and asked a friend to come along with me because how humorous does the title sound? As I sat awaiting the show to start I was entertained by a projection slide show of movie posters edited with herpes humor and I even learned fun facts like how Mr. Robin Williams was sued for millions by an ex-girlfriend for giving her herpes (it ended up being settled out of court).

As the show begun, the audience was packed. Were all of these people interested in Herpes? No more than 3 minutes into the show I was exposed to two shocking photographs (side by side) of the opposite sex genitalia with an out break of, of course, herpes. Mr. Corey Moosa (who looked a lot like Seth Green) explained that this was not his penis but this is what herpes looks like with an outbreak.

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Cult films are so in, bra, and the 1991 stage adaptation of the Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze surfing action flick, “Point Break,” is no exception. “ Point Break Live!,” which opened at a new venue in Hollywood called The Dragonfly, this past Friday, is not just any film to stage adaptation, but rather an interactive show where — get this — a different audience member plays Keanu Reeves each evening for “ultimate realism.”

Flippin’ sweet, dude.

Like the hipper grandson to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show“, “Point Break Live!” has its own loyal following of fans who spout off the lines like high school pep rally cheers responding to the actors in the tight, dimly-lit Dragonfly venue. Moved from a theater in Downtown LA, “Point Break Live!” features the same cast of enthusiastic, energetic actors who seem to relish the opportunity to fight, surf, mug, and, perhaps most importantly, over-act.

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Theater is living on the edge this weekend with a smattering of shows with gun-slingers, revenge-hungry divorce lawyers, rock n’ roll, and… Keanu Reeves? Read below for more information on this weekend’s selections, including Love, Janis, Where’s My Money?, The Lonesome West, and Point Break Live!

Love, Janis: A rock concert and biography rolled into one, “Love, Janis” recreates the ’60s with disco lights and groovy Joplin vibes. With the biographical information taken from Laura Joplin’s biography of Janis, discover more about an iconic rock star.

May 29th-June 1st. Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays: 8 P.M. Sundays: 2 P.M.

• Price: $30.00-$100.00 (Buy Now)
• Wilshire Theatre
• 8440 Wilshire Boulevard
• Beverly Hills, CA 90024 (Map)
• More info at: Wilshire Theatre

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Sick of LA? Take a theatrical trip to another center, whether it’s Manhattan, Renaissance Italy, or futuristic Anywhere USA. Well there are a number of plays including The Hiding Place, I Gelosi (The Jealous Ones), 7 x 7, and Natural Selection that will take you outside of Los Angeles without ever having to leave the city! Keep reading for more information on times, tickets, locations, and more!

The Hiding Place - A quirky romantic comedy from the writer of the Tony-award winning musical hit “Avenue Q,” Jeff Whitty, expect a satirical, youthful production satirizing literary and art culture in mid-90’s Manhattan. While “The Hiding Place” won’t show how everyone’s a little bit racist or feature any Gary Coleman cameos, anything by Whitty should please and provide some bittersweet insights into relationships.

May 23rd-June 8th. Fridays & Saturdays: 8 P.M. Sundays: 2 P.M.

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Just like at the movies, it can be difficult to find excellent theater opportunities in the pre-summer period. However, Los Angeles never really faces a dearth of theater-going opportunities for those serious enough to delve into different neighborhoods. Read more for information about the upcoming performances of Teen Girl, Trying, Kindgom Come, and An Afternoon with Jason Robert Brown throughout the LA area!

Teen Girl - A retro throwback to the 1960s, “Teen Girl,” nevertheless, captures the turbulent essence of what it means to be a teenager. When teen girl Susan’s mom goes out of town, what else could ensue but partying? Expect a good dose of rollicking sex, drugs, and hormones.

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Ellen Geer and Melora Marshall will be bring you Shakepeare’s As You Like It in the hills of Topanga. If you’ve never been to The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum then you’re in for a real treat. The theatre is located quite literally in the hillside of Topanga Canyon (they suggest you bring your own pillow for seating). The Geer’s have been putting on shows in Topanga for ages and always do an amazing job. You are more than welcome to come early and enjoy a picnic before the show or pick up snacks at the Hamlet Hut.

For those of you who don’t know the play As You Like It is about:

Two brothers alienated by ambition. Two more estranged by envy. Rosalind, daughter of a banished Duke, is forced to flee the court and enter the Forest of Arden when her uncle, usurper of his brother’s estate, threatens to have her killed. Accompanied by her cousin Celia, Rosalind disguises herself as a man for safety’s sake. The disguise comes in handy when she tests the devotion of her noble admirer, Orlando - who is also on the run from his hostile older brother. With Rosalind’s wit leading the way, the forces of true love and justice eventually triumph.

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Looking to be a part of something from the beginning? New and upcoming theater writer, Drew Larimore will be having a very polished reading of his new psychological, semi-absurdist drama, THE ANNIVERSARY BOX at the Studio Stage Theatre on Sunday, May 11th at 2 PM. Larimore has been developing the play with Ensemble Studio Theatre- LA in bother their Sunday Best Workshop and their Playwrights Unit.

LA.CityZine sat down with Larimore to ask him a few other questions about his new and upcoming play.

What initially inspired you to write this play?

THE ANNIVERSARY BOX is a play I have been working on since I moved to Los Angeles two and a half years ago. At the time, I wanted to write a play that dealt with science because when I was getting my undergrad I studied evolutionary ethics/psychology in conjunction with writing. (I know - quite the pair!) I was really interested in how scientific knowledge effects and ultimately, changes people, because my perspective had so rapidly changed after studying material by Frans De Waal, Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Richard Dawkins and Joan Roughgarden - really groundbreaking and prominent evolutionary ethicists.

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