Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Picnic, a play written by Pulitzer Prize winner William Inge. Directed by multiple award winner John Farmanesh–Bocca. Produced by Beth Hogan in association with Isabel and Harvey Kibel.
John Farmanesh-Bocca set his version of William Inge‘s Picnic a little bit later than the original play. He transfers the story to the 1960s, at the beginning of America’s involvement in Vietnam. This period exemplified the dreams and frustrations that run deep in a country still healing from the consequences of World War II. Within this environment, we find Madge Owens (Mattie Harris Lowe), who is in a relationship with wealthy Alan Seymour (Ahkei Togun). Madge, however, finds herself dissatisfied, yearning for more. It is in that setting of rural communities of necessity that the rest of the characters interact and listen to each other’s problems and aspirations.
A sudden disruption occurs when the attractive drifter and Alan’s friend Hal Carter (Monti Washington) arrives in town, charming the women with his looks and demeanor. Caught in the middle of emotions, Madge also falls for him. Hal’s condition as an underdog is even more compelling to Madge, who is so smitten with him that she contemplates the possibility of leaving behind her family and breaking up with Alan to run away with Hal.
Another character representing rural America and the aspirations of a better life is Madge’s younger sister, Millie (Symphony Canady), who has artistic inclinations and wants to try new opportunities in New York. Also in the picture is Rosemary Sydney (a fantastic Sydney A. Mason). She’s a schoolteacher who’s desperate to get married and finds storekeeper Howard Bevan (Derrick Parker) her perfect match, specially after a night of drinking and dancing.
The rest of the characters are Madge and Millie’s mother, Flo Owens (Yolanda Snowball), neighbor Mrs. Helen Potts (Rosemary Thomas), Bomber (Rogelio Douglas III), Rosemary’s fellow schoolteachers Irma Kronkite (Erika L. Holmes) and Christine Schoenwalder (Caitlin O’Grady).
The play contains hints of romance, humor, sexual awakening, and historical significance. The characters’ traits are a rich tapestry of the American experience. The characters could be Black, White, Latinos, or Asians and still resonate with the same impact.
Picnic is a sublime painting of the American heartland, a meaningful play with a ray of hope in the face of emptiness. The direction and the cast give a refreshing and meaningful rendition to William Inge’s exceptional script; a story set in a small Kansas town on a Labor Day picnic that says so much of what America was and what it has become, for better or worse.
Picnic
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90025
Performances: March 25 – May 28
• Wednesdays at 8 p.m.: May 10*, May 17 ONLY
• Fridays at 8 p.m.: April 28**, May 19**, May 26 ONLY
• Saturdays at 8 p.m.: March 25 (Opening), April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 13, May 20, May 27
• Sundays at 2 p.m.: April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, May 28
• Mondays at 8 p.m.: April 17*, April 24, May 8 ONLY
*Post-performance discussions on Monday, April 17 and Wednesday, May 10
**Wine Nights on Friday, April 28 and Friday, May 19 complimentary wine and snacks and after the show.
Tickets: odysseytheatre.com
Written by William Inge. Directed by John Farmanesh-Bocca. Starring Symphony Canady, Rogelio Douglas III, Mattie Harris Lowe, Erika Holmes, Sydney A. Mason, Caitlin O’Grady, Derrick Parker, Yolanda Snowball, Rosemary Thomas, Ahkei Togun, and Monti Washington. Produced by Beth Hogan for the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in association with Isabel and Harvey Kibel. Presented by the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Ron Sossi Artistic Director.
Creative team includes set designer Frederica Nascimento, lighting designer Chu-Hsuan Chang and costume designer Mylette Nora. Farmanesh-Bocca co-designs sound with Jeff Gardner and (posthumously) Adam Phelan, and co-choreographs alongside Briana Price. The stage manager is Terrance Stewart.
