Margot (Dahlia Waingort Guigui) and her entourage are captivated by Eve (Esther Guigui), an ingenue who portrays herself as Margot’s biggest fan. But below her sweet demeanor, Eve’s ambition has no limits. Director Bryan Rasmussen extracts the best elements of Mary Caswell Orr‘s script to present an amusing play that delivers drama and comedy in the best possible way.
Combining the elegance and excitement of the 1950s, Rasmussen infuses the play with the effervescence of the Golden Age of Broadway and the glitz and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Paying homage to the stars who performed in the original film released in 1950, the cast in The Whitefire production convey a halo of sophistication and allure typical of the 50s’ productions.
Dahlia Waingort Guigui hits the right notes when portraying the duality of megalomania and carelessness of Margot. Likewise, Esther Guigui does a fantastic job playing the convincing ingenue and the heartless Machiavellian. Bringing order and reason to Margot’s hectic world is her husband Clement (John Mese), who can see through Eve’s excessive ambition right from the get-go. Also supporting Margot’s career is Lloyd (Eric Keitel), the playwright who writes to fit Margot’s personality, but can’t seem to find the right character to fit Margot’s age; she’s now 45 playing a 22-year-old.
To complement the talent and also shining bright on stage are two fabulous actors. Michael Mullen, playing Margot’s dresser Leila and the unscrupulous journalist Tally Ho, is quirky and funny, creating a compelling character and a perfect contrast to the darker tones of the story. More of him would be even better. The other actor is Barry Brisco, playing Karen. He delivers a tremendous performance, combining fluidly both drama and comedy. There are tears in his eyes when he cries, showing his level of commitment.
The story ends up linking Broadway and Hollywood. Whether in New York or Los Angeles, the play delves into ageism, especially for women, and how difficult it is to find trustworthy friends in a hyper-competitive industry that promotes a cutthroat environment. Eve’s ambition keeps the intrigue going till the end. When you think of the magnanimity of forgiveness, a twist happens that throws off your assumptions, and you end up debating whether to sympathize with some of the characters or not. This exercise highlights the brilliance of Orr’s writing.
This is another win for The Whitefire Theatre, an example of resilience despite the challenges and an example of dedication to the production of quality theatre in Los Angeles.
The Wisdom of Eve
The Whitefire Theatre
13500 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
October 12th through November 24th
Performances are Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, with a show added Sunday evening, November 24th at 7:00pm.
(Due to a schedule conflict there is No Show October 26).
Tickets: www.whitefiretheatre.com
Written by Mary Caswell Orr. Directed by Bryan Rasmussen. Produced by Dahlia Waingort Guigui.
Cast: Cayla Black (Vera), Barry Brisco (Karen), Brady Gentry (Harvey), Dahlia Waingort Guigui (Margot), Esther Guigui (Eve), Mitch Hara (Shared Roles – Tally-Ho & Leila – 10/12, 10/19, 11/16 & 11/23), Eric Keitel (Lloyd), John Mese (Clement), Michael Mullen (Shared Roles – Tally Ho/Leila – Performs 11/2, 11/9 & 11/24, Mitch Rosander (Bert Hinkle).
Creative team: Jeff Rack (Set Design), Derrick McDaniel (Lighting Design), Michael Mullen (Costume Design), and Mitch Rosander (Sound/Projection Design).
