IAMA Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Smile, written by Melissa Jane Osborne and directed by Michelle Bossy. The story is set in 1992, a year called “Year of the Woman”.
In the opening scene, 17-year-old Rachel Olivera (Isabella Feliciana) is talking to Helen (Andria Kozica, Theatre Review: Celestial Events), the school’s counselor. Rachel reacted to her classmates harassment and the physical altercation is jeopardizing her future education. Helen feels a special connection to Rachel and decides to help her out. When Helen’s husband, Matt (John Lavelle), finds out about the help Helen is providing to Rachel, he looses his mind and underlying issues related to a tragic past start to reappear, threatening to break apart their marriage.
Rachel is a character dealing with coming of age in a society that defines her worth based on race, gender, and social status. Her story portrays that of many young women who receive a constant influx of mixed messages from their peers and society at large. In Rachel’s case, her situation at an emotional level gets even more complicated with the indecisive actions of Joey (Alex Fox), the teenage neighbor who shows interest in her but falls victim of the rumors surrounding Rachel’s altercation at school.
The dialogue in Melissa Jane Osborne‘s script shows the apparent disconnection due to the age gap between Rachel and Helen, a reference to two generations, two social classes, and two races that despite their differences, still find common grounds to influence each other in a positive way.
Another aspect highlighted masterfully in the play, both in the script and in Michelle Bossy‘s direction, is the emotional pain of past tragic events and the dormant traumas that will continue to come back unexpectedly. Helen and Matt’s actions show that their traumas have permeated their marriage and their relationships with the people around them, even unconsciously.
Smile tells the story of missed educational opportunities, but even more painfully, it tells the story of missed human connections. Rachel and Helen are ready to connect, but the world around them is not, a reflection of a society that is still trying to keep up with the times.
Smile
Written by Melissa Jane Osborne. Directed by Michelle Bossy. Starring Isabella Feliciana, Ronit Kathuria (Alex Fox on opening night), Andria Kozica, and John Lavelle. Presented by IAMA Theatre Company, Stefanie Black, artistic director. Creative team: scenic designer Yuri Okahana-Benson; lighting designer Dan Weingarten; sound designer Erin Bednarz; projections designer Sean Cawelti; costume designer Vicki Conrad; properties designer Heath Harper; and casting director Jordan Bass. IAMA ensemble member Anna LaMadrid is associate director and dramaturg. Grant Gerrard is the production manager and Kimberly Sanchez Garrido is the stage manager. Tiffany Moon and Kat Kim produce for IAMA Theatre Company.
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
FREE parking in the ATX (Atwater Crossing) lot one block south of the theater.
Performances: November 12 – December 5
Fridays at 8 p.m.: Nov. 18; Dec. 2; (dark Nov. 25)
Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Nov. 12 (opening night); Nov. 19; Nov. 26; Dec. 3
Sundays at 3 p.m.: Nov. 20; Nov. 27; Dec. 4
Mondays at 8 p.m.: Nov. 21; Nov. 28; Dec. 5
Tickets: iamatheatre.com
