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Review:
An Oak Tree (Play)
Performance: Friday, January 8, 2010 @ The
Odyssey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA by P. Kristen Enos
(Originally posted January 10, 2010.)
What It's About:
The main premise of
this play as that there are two parts: one who
is the play regular, and the other is a guest actor
who typically has not seen nor heard of the
material. Also, even though the role is
defined, the guest actor can be of any gender or age
or race (or orientation).
Well, part of the
experience of this play is to be just as surprised
as guest actor. IF you really must know
beforehand, you can do your own research.
My Real Thoughts On It:
It was a complete
fluke for me to see this play for a second
time.
The first time was in
November when I was up in Seattle on a business
trip. I had arranged to go out to dinner with
an actor friend of mine. Well, she got notice
that someone she knew was going to be the guest
actor for this play neither of us had heard of.
So I attended the play completely blind in terms of
knowledge of the content or the performers. It
was an interesting evening but I admit that I was
far more analytic in my reaction since I had no
emotional connection prior to seeing it.
This time around, the
guest actor in question, Lisa Wolpe, sent out the
announcement in the Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare
Company email list for this one time performance.
I had to chuckle when I saw what the play was given
that my last comment about the Seattle show was that
I didn't think I'd ever see the play again without
the emotional incentive of seeing someone I know
perform it. And since I had nothing else
planned that night, I do make a point of trying to
see her performances when I can, this proved to be
an excuse to go hang out in L.A. for a night.
There was also the incentive of seeing the regular
role performed by the actual playwright, Tim Crouch.
This is NOT the play
for you if you like/need linear storytelling and
performance experiences. The play is very
multi-layered, both within the story and as an
audience member watching a play be performed.
If you want an
interesting night at the theater with the unique
experience to go with it, I would recommend it.
It does help if you're attending with the knowledge
and appreciation of the play performance process.
Now, I admit that
having seen Lisa perform it, I don't know of any
circumstance that would make me go see it
again. But that's what I thought after the first
time.
Extra Little Tidbits:
Since I had the
opportunity to go to an after show party, Tim was
the "proud" father and told us about the YouTube
videos his 10 year old son Joey had created, which
proved to be an interesting few minutes of hilarious
entertainment:
