Painful and witty
Ghosts and a serial killer are featured in two disparate Pasadena-area plays
By Jana J. Monji 11/13/2008
In Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s “The Mystery Plays” at the Stillspeaking Theatre in San Marino, we are guided into a world of ghosts by Mr. Mystery (Dariean Henderson).
Act 1 is “The Filmmaker’s Mystery,” where budding writer/director Joe Manning (Chad C. Wood) meets handsome gay neurologist Nathan (Nicholas Birren) on a train. When a train accident leaves Manning the only survivor, Nathan comes back to haunt him.
In Act 2, “Ghost Children,” Manning’s friend Abby (Sara Ceballos) has become a successful lawyer, but she has turned her back on her only brother, Ben (Justin Dew), who is in prison for the murder of their parents and younger sister. Ben is up for parole and, although he has been writing to Abby for years, Abby has never responded and has not even read any of his missives until now.
Director Donald B. Shenk could tighten up the action, but this ensemble conveys the heartfelt emotion of troubled lives.
On the other end of the spectrum, “U.S. Drag,” written by TV screenwriter Gina Gionfriddo and making its West Coast premiere as a Furious Theatre Co. production at the Carrie Hamilton Theatre, is anything but serious.
In this black comedy, best friends Angela (Megan Goodchild) and Allison (Katie Davies) are looking for an easy way to fame and fortune — something that doesn’t include drudgery. As Allison explains, “It’s hard to work for a little when what you want is a lot.” Angela is a hard-nosed brunette who finds a job working bookstore events.
While all this is happening, Manhattan is being threatened by a serial slasher dubbed Ed.
The two volunteer for a community advocacy group called SAFE (Stay Away From Ed) in hopes of finding the killer and collecting the reward money.
Under the direction of Darin Anthony, the pace is snappy and the characterizations are sharp, nuanced and funny.
“U.S. Drag” continues until Nov. 22 at the Pasadena Playhouse’s Carrie Hamilton Theatre,
29 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. For more information, call (800) 595-4849 or visit
FuriousTheatre.org.
“The Mystery Plays” continues until Nov. 23 at the Stillspeaking Theatre, 2560 Huntington Drive, San Marino. For more information, call (626) 292-2081 or visit stillspeakingtheatre.org.
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