Circle X Theatre Company presents the West Coast premiere of Do You Feel Anger? Written by Mara Nelson–Greenberg. Directed by Halena Kays.
Do You Feel Anger?, written in the absurdist style, is set in a debt collection agency. Sofia (Paula Rebelo) is hired as an empathy coach by the agency. Her job is to instill a sense of empathy in the employees through a series of exercises, using words to describe their own feelings and those of the people they call to collect a debt. Jon, the boss (Casey Smith), is as insensitive as the rest of the employees. Almost immediately, Jon’s comments reveal the sexist environment of the workplace when he asks Sofia to wear a dress instead of pants. When Sofia asks him if he knows what a woman’s period is, he has to call his assistant to figure it out. This becomes one of the funniest scenes, as he is both amused and disgusted when the assistant explains it to him.
The employees are Eva (a phenomenal Tasha Ames, Theatre Review: Hooded or Being Black for Dummies), Jordan (Napoleon Tavale), Howie (Rich Liccardo), and Janie (Charlotte Gulezian), who went missing mysteriously after she went to the restroom one day. A recurrent issue in the office is Eva’s claim about getting mugged in the cafeteria repeatedly, an incident that Jon asserts he’s investigating.
In her first private conversation with Sofia, Eva confides that, as a deterrent, she needs to have a boyfriend at all times to keep Jordan and Howie away from her. So urgent is her boyfriend strategy, that she doesn’t even remember the names of the guys she dates. Sofia reassures Eva and starts to bond with her in what appears to be a nurturing relationship that will boost Eva’s self-confidence.
Jordan and Howie, on the other hand, prove to be a tough case of misogyny and bad behavior. This will push Sofia’s patience to the limit, so much that she will end up spending a great deal of time coaching and pretending to side with them to understand their point of view. Her strategy then turns into some kind of reverse psychology. But as their interactions become more intense, the question now is: Who is using reverse psychology on whom?
Sofia also finds out that her dad has a second family. As she tries to teach the employees at the agency about empathy, Sofia fails to show that feeling towards her own mom (Rose Portillo), who is struggling to cope with her failed marriage.
Following the absurdist style of the play, one of Eva’s ex-boyfriend (Bob Clendenin), an old man in a wheelchair, shows up and threatens to blow up the office.
Under pressure from Jon to complete the training, Sofia finds herself juggling different personalities with challenging needs. Sofia’s bonding with Howie and Jordan start to shift the play in a new direction, mainly at Eva’s expense. Sofia’s own success as an empathy coach might be jeopardized by how close she gets to her subjects. The relationship of Sofia with the rest of the characters highlights the premise of whether the feelings of some people should matter more than those of others.
Even though the situations and dialogue might feel cliché, the absurdist nature of the play calls for exaggerated elements to make it work as a comedy. The direction and the excellent performances of the actors keep the audiences amused and entertained as a continuum throughout the play.
Special mention to lighting designer Stephen Azua, who delivers an outstanding job with the vibrant and subtle changes both during transitions and within the scenes.
The rest of the creative team includes scenic designer François-Pierre Couture; sound designer Jesse Mandapat; and costume designer Dianne K. Graebner. Properties design is by Kat Haan, with specialty props by Richard Maher. The assistant director is Lee Hannah Conrads and the production stage manager is Roella Dellosa.
Do You Feel Anger?
Written by Mara Nelson–Greenberg. Directed by Halena Kays. Starring Tasha Ames, Charlotte Gulezian, Rich Liccardo, Rose Portillo, Paula Rebelo, Casey Smith, and Napoleon Tavale. Featuring cameo appearances by Bob Clendenin (Jan.19-Jan. 22); William Salyers (Jan. 26-Jan. 29); John Getz (Feb. 2-Feb. 5); Jan Munroe (Feb. 9-Feb. 12); Tony Amendola (Feb. 16-Feb. 19); and Silas Weir Mitchell (Feb. 23-Feb. 25). (Please note that the guest performer rotation is subject to change; updates can be found at www.circlextheatre.org.) Produced by Jen Kays, Kat Haan and Timothy Wright. Presented by Circle X Theatre Company.
Circle X Theater Company
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
PARKING:
FREE in the Atwater Crossing (AXT) lot one block south of the theater.
Performances: Jan. 21-Feb. 25, 2023:
• Thursday at 8 p.m.: Jan. 26; Feb. 2; Feb. 9; Feb. 16; Feb. 23
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: Jan. 27; Feb. 3; Feb. 10; Feb. 17; Feb. 24
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Jan. 21 (opening night); Jan. 28; Feb. 4; Feb. 11; Feb. 18; Feb. 25
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: Jan. 22; Jan. 29; Feb.5; Feb. 12; Feb. 19
Tickets: www.circlextheatre.org
