Los Angeles Theatre Review: Six Characters Looking For an Author

While a theatre company rehearses a scene from Luigi Pirandello's The Rules of the Game, characters from an unproduced play jump from their dusty pages kept in the back of a closet somewhere and amble in, hoping to find their voice, in The Promenade Playhouse production of the playwright's arguably most famous piece Six Characters in Search of an Author, renamed in David Harrower's updated Six (or 6) Characters Looking For an Author.  The play begins unannounced while the audience has been treated to a stagehand painting the walls of the set--composed of little but a work table and an eclectic mix of chairs--while listening to Italian opera and such songs as the Elvis Presley-styled "O Sole Mio" ("It's Now or Never").  The lighting booth operator casually tools around on his cell phone.  



After the play begins, the Characters quickly crash the party and address the audience like they're in a Fellini movie.  The absurdist premise is one which initially baffles the cast and crew of Game, but eventually they start to play along, both literally and figuratively, as they act out some of the Character's scenes, take direction from them, and are subsequently swept aside.  "I am a character who is not realized enough," says one.  "This is theatre and truth is only allowed to a certain point," another informs everyone.  The Characters want so desperately to tell their story about their tragic familial relationship and quickly take control as in-fighting festers.  Like any good lawyer, they fight even harder than an actor would to make their case, though some often go silent and pause in melancholy repose against the stage wall.  So many egos, so little space.  The abrupt ending is an efficient treat.  Pathetically, I had never seen a production of Six Characters up until this point, so I have nothing to compare it to, Harrower's revision or otherwise.  However, I'm reminded of the recent The Fool & the Red Queen (with a little patron participation thrown in), and the expectations audience project on live theatre.  The metatheatrical play has an ongoing commentary on the relationship between characters, actors, and audience, inquiring: What is real?  Vincent Lappas, also one of the actors, designed the set.  As the cast is switched around during the run, I saw the "Cat' version.  There is also a "Dog" edition.  The show runs through July 21st Friday and Saturday nights at 8 PM in Santa Monica.  The show is a little over an hour with no intermission.  There is two-hour free parking in a nearby garage.  And, as it's Santa Monica, there are LOADS of good places to dine.  You can find more information by clicking here or the Plays 411 logo to your left.