"The New Situation"
Hello there Theater Pulse fans! I know I’ve been lacking in
my blog posts over the summer, but I had good reason. As you know, I produced a
Shakespearean play, which essentially left me with very little free time for
over a month. Then I headed out of town, to see San Francisco, New Orleans and
Las Vegas, for some much needed R & R. Now it’s the end of summer and the
beginning of fall, the perfect time to get back on the wagon and see some more
Los Angeles theater!
Last Friday I went to the opening night of a new play,
titled “The New Situation.” What a
show it was to get me back into the Theater mindset of interesting characters,
vivid storytelling, and live entertainment. Every new work has its quirks, but
“The New Situation” excels above its kinks to tell a very sweet and cute story.
More, an especially great performance by the leading lady brings this show to
its potential.
Written by Carlo Allen (who also directs and stars), “The
New Situation” centers on a brother (Francisco) and sister (Antonia) who are
struggling to make ends meat during the Great Recession. Even though they have
many bills to pay, Francisco, played by Joshua M. Bott, is the only one with a
job, a low paying teaching position at a LAUSD school. Antonia, played by Susan
M. Flynn, is unemployed. She would love to work, but due to her anxiety
problems, she is unable to leave the house. In fact, she hasn’t left the house
for over two years as a result of nervousness she developed after a mastectomy.
The pair decides that the only solution to their problems is
to rent out to the two vacant bedrooms of their home, and after a craiglist ad,
Rudy, a lothario, and Constantine, a fabulous art docent, show up, ready to
rent. Both have had some recent financial and personal problems, and they must
accept the idea of living with others as a way to survive. So Francisco and
Antonia agree to let them live with them.
Much of the show focuses on the shenanigans and goings on of
the house. There are some hilarious moments as they discuss life and tease each
other’s daily plans. It’s like an eccentric, Latino “Three’s Company.” Very
funny, very creative and highly entertaining. But the crux of the story hinges
on the three men of the household, encouraging and building up Antonia, hoping
that she will one day step out the front door and live life outside the house
again.
Although I won’t give away the ending of the show, I will
say that Susan M. Flynn as Antonia was delightful, truly the best part of the
production. The character is tough. She must be equally charming and anxious.
The audience must be able to root for her, hoping that she will one day face
the challenges the world has to offer, and the anxiety has to be great but not
distracting. The other character’s lives and struggles cannot be overshadowed
by her problems, because they have their own character arcs as well. Flynn is
immensely likeable and sweet; from the moment lights were up, I was on her
side. And the anxiety attacks, when they do occur, seem to rush over her, a
surprising tidal wave that appropriately reminds the audience that this
character is flawed and needs help. Flynn was simple, honest and specific with
her choices for Antonia, and the audience loved laughing at her character’s
struggles and successes.
I applaud “The New Situation” and Carlo Allen for exploring
the struggles of the recent economic turmoil in the US (and Los Angeles
especially), and I enjoyed seeing this story through a Latino point of view.
Not much theater (at least that I’ve seen) is exploring some of the middle
class Latino struggles and triumphs, nor is it exploring the dynamics between
different races and personalities (as seen through these characters being
forced into a “new situation” where they must all live in close quarters). “The
New Situation” is a great, enjoyable show that is worth a viewing.
Nora Plesent's and Maria Richwine's production of "The New Situation," written and directed by Carlo Allen, runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 5 pm through September 28 at the Promenade Playhouse, 1404 3rd St Promenade, Santa Monica CA 90401. For more information and to buy tickets online, check out thenewsituation.brownpapertickets.com.
