Tag Archives: Suicide

Theatre Review: A Permanent Image

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Pacific Resident Theatre presents A Permanent Image. Written by Samuel D. Hunter. Directed by Andrew Wayman.

Viola, Idaho. December, 2011. Bo (Scott Jackson) and Ally (Dalia Vosylius) visit their mom Carol (Terry Davis), after the passing of their dad Martin (Phil Cass). Nothing seems that unusual, except that Martin died of suicide. Oh, and that Carol painted the house with brushstrokes of white paint, including the furniture.

As the recriminations intensify, the family dynamics start to unveil the complexities of their lives. Education, negligence, and the despair of feeling left behind all play a role in the way the characters treat each other.

The busy schedules of Bo and Ally have prevented them from visiting their parents more often, taking a toll on Martin and Carol’s emotional state. It is the lack of formal education what seems to push Martin and Carol to get involved in some esoteric beliefs about cosmology. That philosophy leads them to some extreme views about life and death. It is now time for Bo and Ally to either accept or reject Carol’s decision about her own choices following Martin’s death.

Director Andrew Wayman uses the exposition of the character’s lives to convey the dramatic consequences of growing apart as a family and the psychological scars left by that fracture. In A Permanent Image, Samuel D. Hunter explores the effects of isolation and the efforts of family members to reconnect with each other. It is, however, the topic of voluntary euthanasia that raises the most ethical and philosophical questions. If life has no more value for someone, should that person be allowed to commit suicide with some assistance?

The four actors portray the vulnerabilities and resilience necessary to trigger deep and emotive reactions from the audience. Throughout the play, they build up the tension for that very last scene. It’s intimate. It’s emotional. It’s powerful.

A Permanent Image

Pacific Resident Theatre
703 Venice Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291

Opened December 2, 2023
Closing: February 25, 2024
Schedule:
Saturday, 2/10 – 8 pm
Sunday, 2/11 – 3 pm
Saturday, 2/17 – 3 pm
Sunday, 2/18 – 3 pm
Saturday, 2/24 – 8 pm
Sunday, 2/25 – 3 pm

Tickets: pacificresidenttheatre.org

Playwright: Samuel D. Hunter. Director: Andrew Weyman. Assistant Director: Susan Wilder. Presented by Pacific Resident Theatre. Cast: Phil Cass (Martin), Terry Davis (Carol), Scott Jackson (Bo), and Dalia Vosylius (Ally). Creative team: Michael Franco (Lighting Design), Andrew Weyman (Scenic Design), Susan Wilder (Costume Design), Keith Stevenson (Sound Design), and James Morris (Projection Design).

A scene from A Permanent Image
A scene from A Permanent Image
A scene from A Permanent Image

Theatre Review: Driver’s Seat

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Driver’s Seat is written and performed by Ellie Brelis. Directed by Emily Mikolitch.

Ellie Brelis introduces us to a condition called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), something she had to live with since early childhood. This situation led her to find ways to navigate life and relationships. If the transition to adulthood is difficult to most people, adding OCD to the equation makes it even more complicated.

The play is a journey through some of the toughest episodes in Ellie’s life. She needed constant validation in order to endure the darkest moments she experienced. But some of that validation just didn’t happen. Finding refuge in a relationship seems like a natural thing to do. In her case, however, the breakup of that relationship caused more damage than anything else. If on top of that your grandfather dies of Covid amid a world pandemic, you get the picture.

Those devastating events triggered a really bad case of OCD that brought up thoughts of suicide. When she reached out for help, she was taken to a psychiatric hospital. In the middle of that environment,  she found a true friendship that understood her situation and helped her survive her ordeal.

After her hospital stay, Ellie was treated with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy in order to overcome her fears. 

One of Ellie’s greatest fears is to drive, so she kept putting off her driver’s license exam. For a person with OCD, driving can become a real nightmare, the constant fear of killing someone is a frightening idea that they can’t get out of their minds.

In addition to the already delicate position of someone with OCD, coming out as queer in a still conservative society can add to the anxiety to a young and vulnerable person.      

Driver’s Seat is a play where despite the topics depicted, the protagonist still finds room for humor. And in humor, as is often the case, we can find validation to endure and survive, and in the case of Ellie, to thrive and shine. 

Ellie Brelis is an example of strength and courage that is touching and contagious. Her personal story of tribulations and survival needs to be told. It’s a story that will hopefully reach the audience who, just like her, might also need hope and validation.

Director Emily Mikolitch is a young director who put together an interesting solo show that has emotion and humor to keep the audience engaged. The script and performance make great use of the multicolor light, the crisp white wardrobe, projections, sound, and music, making this play a cathartic experience that allows the energy to flow back and forth between a brave thespian and an involved audience.

Driver’s Seat

Written and performed by Ellie Brelis. Directed by Emily Mikolitch. Produced by Misha Riley. Creative team: Gavan Wyrick (Lighting Design), Gabriella Gilman (Costume Design), Charlie Glaudini (Sound Design), Nick Wass (Projection Design), Michelle Hanzelova (Graphic Design), Roella Dellosa (Stage Manager). 

Theatre 68 Arts Complex, Emerson Theatre
5112 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA

Opening at 8pm on Saturday, October 22
Schedule: 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm Sundays
Closing: Sunday, November 13, 2022

Tickets: www.Onstage411.com/DriversSeat  

Driver's Seat poster
A scene from Driver's Seat
A scene from Driver's Seat
A scene from Driver's Seat

Theatre Review: The Beautiful People

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Rogue Machine presents the world premiere of The Beautiful People, a play written by Tim Venable and directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos.

A sleepover takes a sinister turn in the basement of a typical American house. The story is set in the 90s, a period where hate, frustration, and a mental health crisis started to take shape and became a pressure cooker ready to explode.

E (Alexander Neher) hosts the sleepover, where he manipulates, humiliates, and comforts an insecure, depressed, and angry D (Justin Preston). Venable’s play is an exploration of where the new wave of violence started and where we are now. The continuous reference to pop icons is an accurate depiction of some of the root causes of the extreme acts of violence committed by some disillusioned youngsters who have no further expectations of a better life. The references to incels and the devastation caused by social rejection also paints a grim picture of the other factors that are building up in the hearts and minds of the new generation of Americans.

Much has been said about gun control, but that alone will not fix the underlying issues of isolation, loneliness, and mental issues experienced in America. The play digs deep into those elements that are pushing a great number of people to the limit. The intricate web of cause and effect is explored in Venable’s writing, where only two characters project the many issues affecting American society at large. The exposition of the characters’ backgrounds and frustrations poses an uncomfortable question that lingers in the air: Have mass shooters failed society, or has society failed them?

The brave performances of Neher and Preston are a testament of the dedication to their craft; Neher is brilliant as the cold bully and Preston is a tour de force as the vulnerable teenager, imploring compassion, but ready to commit great damage. David Mauer (Production Design) does a great job with the set and lighting to represent not only the basement of a house, but also what is happening underneath American society.

The Beautiful People is a pungent and radical play that will get you out of your comfort zone and place you in the character’s world. A world where survival of the fittest is the only way. The topics presented might make the skin crawl, but the play offers an opportunity to start a conversation that could prevent a tragedy that might be around the corner.

The Beautiful People

Written by Tim Venable. Directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos. Starring Alex Neher and Justin Preston. Produced by John Flynn, Rebecca Larsen (A Rogue Machine Production).

Rogue Machine 
7657 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90462

For tickets: https://www.roguemachinetheatre.net/