Reviewed by: Amalisha HuEck
Upon entering the theatre's seating area, cleverly placed in a circular fashion leaving the middle as a stage, we pass by scattered items on and outside the designated space. Seeing this, it was hard to guess where the best seat would be. I sat at the back of the stage or performance area and had a limited view for some scenes. I would like to see the play again with a different seat choice and reasons. The play is interesting, intriguing, exciting, funny, super authentic and full of precipitous, rocky places. There is no dull moment during this production.
The West Coast premiere of Abby Rosebrock's Dido of Idaho by The Echo Theater Company at Atwater Village Theatre starring Alana Dietze (Nora), is a story of young woman who falls deeply in love with a married man. They are both music professors and have much in common. While the beautiful 17
th Century opera 'Dido and Aenas' by Henry Purcell is being played and shared by both of them, in dreaming of the future she calls herself a 'musical mom, who is a pit stop' for her lover Michael (Joby Earle). Nora is totally enchanted by Michael, as young women know to be, especially the ones that grew up without a father. She is a weak and hopeless child when she is alone and words, 'When he holds me, I know God exists in this world' tell it all. Her lesbian mother Julie (Julie Dretzin) and her lover Ethel (Elissa Middleton) help Nora when she appears on their doorstep after she has been injured by Michael's wife, Crystal (Nicole DuPort). With such a talented cast and under the skilled direction of Abigail Deser
Dido of Idaho is an outstanding, strong, and original production, produced by Kelly Beech, Marie Bland, and Chris Fields. Assistant Director is Willa Witkoski-Fields.
The creative Stage Design is by Amanda Knehans, Costumes by Dianne K. Graebner, Lighting Design is by Xinyuan Li, Sound Design by Alysha Bermudez, Make-up Design is by Jennifer Pritchard, Production Stage Manager is Sayre Crabtree, and the precise Fight Choreography is by Ahmed Best.
'The title of the play is derived from the ancient Greek tale of Dido and Aeneas. In the course of his travels, Aeneas stops in Carthage, where he has a passionate love affair with the recently widowed Queen Dido. As soon as he learns that the gods have assigned him another, more glorious fate, Aeneas abandons Dido, whereupon she kills herself in rage and despair.'
In exploring the child/woman who feels hopeless of ever being loved, Deser creates, 'a lot of physical comedy, wordplay and rapid-fire punchlines, all situated in something like realism, which makes the story something people can really inhale, even as it challenges them.'
DIDO of Idaho opened on Saturday. Atwater Village Theatre is located at 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, with performances continuing on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 4 p.m. and Mondays at 8 p.m. through Aug. 26. Preview performances are set for Thursday, July 18, and Friday, July 19, each at 8 p.m. Tickets are $34 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. All Monday night performances, as well as previews, are pay-what-you-want. It is a brilliant production, and I highly recommend it.
For more information and to purchase tickets, call 747-350-8066 or go to www.EchoTheaterCompany.com
***This production is dedicated to the loving memory of Carol Locatell.