Anything
Elephant Theatre Company is one of the most original, daring, and creative companies in Los Angeles. The company started in a loft in 1995 and has grown to encompass a four- theatre complex where they perform and host many other top groups in Los Angeles. I have only caught a few of their shows but their last show, In Arabia We’d All Be Kings, made me keep an eye out for this company, the one of its talented directors, David Fofi. I finally got to see another such offering in Anything currently playing at the Lillian Theatre, their largest space (99 seats).
Anything was written and stars Tim McNeil, a new member in his second collaboration with director Fofi (last was Los Muertos). The result is a compelling play about two lost souls, a southern widower Early Landry and his transvestite prostitute neighbor Freda Von Rhenberg (love the name). While the premise isn’t exactly new and there are many such plays of two losers coming together to find a kind of salvation, this production is so well acted and directed it kept me captivated. The writing is also first rate with some snappy dialogue and a great wry sense of humor It is the humor which saves the play from being too improbable to accept. The characters never take themselves or their situation so seriously that they can’t at times make jokes, and good ones, at their own expense.
Tim McNeil plays early, a southern widower who has tried to commit suicide at least four times and it looking for a time when he can try again. He is a rather pathetic creature all awkward gestures, with a small almost whispering voice as if he is worried everything might fall apart if he were to speak his mind or just speak out against his intrusive sister, a studio executive who is used to getting her way (well played, almost hissibly- so, by Cheryl Huggins). Honestly he seemed rather retarded but is later revealed to have a generous, interesting inner life.
His partner in all this is Louis Jacobs as the aforementioned Freda. He give an extraordinary performance as this beaten down, cynical transvestite who arrives at Early door haven been beaten within an inch of his life. To watch him open to the possibility of a real relationship with Early is something to behold. Along with McNeil, there isn’t a false moment between them and they handle the quick emotion changes with great ease. They are nicely supported by the rest of the cast. In addition to Cheryl Jacobs (alternating with Mimi Drew) there is the sister’s husband, played with patient restraint by Don Cesario (David Franco alternates0 and a humorous turn by Jeremy Glazer as the nephew. Max Williams is also frighteningly good as Freda’s abusive boyfriend Larry. All this is due to the brilliant direction by David Fofi who is now one of my favorite Los Angeles directors.
At the Lillian Theatre http//www.elephanttheatrecompany.com