In The Wings
I always look forward to seeing a production with Mariette Hartley who I believe to be a charming and talented actress. So it was with anticipation that I attended In The Wings playing at the Whitefire Theater in Sherman Oaks, billed as a comedy with Marette Hartley. My first disappointment was that Hartley was hardly the “star” of the production. As a matter of fact, her role was quite innocuous.
This semi-autobiographical play, written by Jerry Sroka (Hartley’s husband) is about a troupe of actors rehearsing for a play that is scheduled to open in a short time. Not anywhere close to being ready in the very near future, the frazzled playwright/director Sam (Daniel Hagen) and the entire cast seem to be at odds with one another. His wife Julie, (Annette Reid) the producer of the play, has fired the lead actress (we can only guess why) and takes over the role herself. We soon discover that the play is a true life event in Sam’s and Julie’s life, five years in which they were unable to conceive a child. Playing opposite Julie (in the play-within-a-play) is Will Schaub as Tony, the handsome soap-opera star who has been very close to his co-star in the production. (Now we can figure out why Julie fired her!). Sean Moran plays the stage manager George. Others in the cast include a very perky Liz Sroka (Jerry’s real-life daughter) who steals the show as ingénue Carolyn, Jerry Sroka in a supporting role as Murray and Hartley as Mary. My second disappointment was, not so much the content of the play, but the book itself, not so very funny. Since Sroka’s daughter appeared in the production, it is obvious that his dilemma was eventually solved. Directed by Don Eitner.
Whitefire Theater
13500 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA
Continues through May 11
Tickets: (323) 960-7735, online at www.plays411.com/wings