Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
At the start of the 35th season, the new Artistic Director Raymond O. Caldwell is ecstatic about joining the Fountain Theatre family and to continue to expand upon the rich legacy of award-winning, innovative theatre, and is presenting a season that asks us to think deeply about healing, forgiveness, and love. He tells us, "My friend Audrey Cefaly has written a play that we in Los Angeles can so deeply relate to after the fires that recently ravaged our region. When we originally programmed this play, we had no idea of the devastation many in our community would confront. So, when natural disaster strikes, how do we rebuild, move on, or even imagine a path forward? That feels even more impossible when folks have been robbed of loved ones and dreams. What Audrey invites us to experience in this play are the power of laughter, trust, and love as vital ingredients in our collective healing."
Alabaster is a dark comedy about a small farmhouse in Alabaster, Alabama, where June played by Virginia Newcomb lives alone with her two goats Weezy played by Carolyn Messina and Bib - the mother goat, played by Laura Gardner. The story is told by June and her goat Weezy. Since the tornado killed her whole family a few years ago and left her body full of scars, June lives alone and in a lot of pain from injuries. When a photographer Alice played by Erin Pineda came to take pictures of her for a photo series on women with scars, we see the immediate attraction between the two women, who ended up in a relationship where the power of women helped heal the broken heart and navigate the focus from pain and loss to one on art and love.
It is fun to listen to goat Weezy who tells the story and watch how lovingly she takes care of her mother, who eventually passes on. We see another loss and pain there greatly expressed by Weezy. The perfect casting is usually half the way to create a great play. June and Alice have great chemistry and give us the formula of what trauma and recovery can look and feel like. Excellent job and so enjoyable to watch all four women in the cast.
Under the direction of Casey Stangl, we have a very special and extremely strong play. As a great opening of a new season,
Alabaster is produced by The Fountain Theatre with Barbara Herman and Karen Kondazian as Executive Producers. Carrie Chassin, Jochen Haber, Suzanne and Donald Zachary also share the Producers credit.
The team players are Alison Brummer (Lighting Design), Rebecca Carr (Costume Design), Andrea Allmond (Sound Design & Original Composition), Frederica Nascimento ( Scenic Design), Frank Grupt (Asst. Scenic Artist), Marine Walton (Charge Scenic Artist), Allison Bibicoff (Intimacy Direction), Angela Park (Stage Mgmt), Gina DeLuca (Asst.Stage Mgmt), Ly Eisenstein (Video Design), Krys Fehervari (Makeup Design), Joel Daavid (Lead Carpenter) with Claire German, Alaya Karasso and Sky Mireles as carpenters. The technical Direction is under Scott Tuomey and electrician is Nelson Tynes.
Alabaster opened on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., with performances thereafter on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through March 30 (dark Monday, Feb. 17). The length of the play is 90 minutes to two hours with one intermission. Age of Intended Audience ages 18 and up.
Tickets range from $25-$45; Pay-What-You-Want seating is available every Monday night in addition to regular seating (subject to availability); all previews are Pay-What-You-Want.
The Fountain Theatre is located at 5060 Fountain Avenue (at Normandie) in Los Angeles. Patrons are invited upstairs to relax before and after the show at the Fountain's café. For reservations and information, call (323) 663-1525 or go to
www.FountainTheatre.com