Famous by Michael Leoni

By Joe Straw

When first entering The 11:11 Theatre, formally the Macha Theatre, and before that The Globe Theatre, one notices a lot of changes to the theatre, in the theatre, and around the theatre. The infusion of capital is apparent.

The seats have been carefully readjusted so there is plenty of legroom now.  And what was almost a three quarter seating arrangement are now seats out in front of the stage and that is good.  

The high ceiling is covered with a reflective foil, and possibly with material to diffuse the sound.  And the lighting is up to date with the latest gadgets. This is a nice touch as well.

This is an intimate house so when the actors first appeared on stage they were all mic’d.  Oh, this must be a musical I thought - 19 songs on Side A, and 12 songs on Side B – music by Conner Youngblood.   But no, they were all mic’d to be heard above the party music and baby the party never stopped.

And as the music roared from the above speakers, my backside was vibrating by the heavy doses of base that rattled the theatre seats and the base to which they were attached, sometimes rolling as though heavy tanks were moving in.

Can this be the intimate theatre of the future?

Upon entrance, the set is bathed in a purple light, Lighting Design by Martha Carter; a bed sits center stage, with a sliding glass windowed outlook onto a balcony in the Hollywood Hills.   Upstairs is another bedroom and in an elevated mezzanine there is yet another bedroom upstage left.  Entryways to the small bedrooms and bathroom are by sliding glass doors. Everything is painted white, a very clean evangelical white – to match the main character’s  angelic public persona.

By 99-seat theatre standards, David Offner Scenic Designer is beautiful and a wonderful menagerie for the actors to play.

Set in 1994 (Phoenix died in 1993) the entrances and the exits are as fast and furious as they are famous and everyone attending the party wants to be famous, in their own little way.  

There are two Jasons, a young Jason (Derick Breezee) and a slightly older Jason (Christopher Dietrick) who actually have similar looks.  

The older Jason, living in the moment, is reflective of how this all came to be.  He does this two ways imagining his younger self, and two by observing his friends on cameras set up throughout the house.  

Today, the older Jason has found out that he has been nominated for an Academy Award, thereby sealing his “famous” moniker.  Unfortunately, (and here’s a spoiler) it will be the last day he enjoys that that moniker.

For the moment, everyone wants a piece of him. Friends, family, tv and fans bang loudly on his door trying to get into his Hollywood Hills home.  The phone is continually ringing, his mother (Rachael Meyers) mostly - a person that Jason hangs up on every given moment – the reasons why are revealed during the course of the play.

And Jason is scared to death of what is coming but it’s nothing a little drink couldn’t fix, a little pill to take the edge off, or a shot of heroin to take away the biting edge and one that produces an inimical gaze.

Michael Leoni, director, gives us some amazing moments and strong visuals, but he takes on too much as the writer and director of the play.  And while there are fascinating things happening on stage, the play loses its focus, the through line - Harold Clurman fondly speaks to – and the nuanced story line loses its focus.

Lost in the confabulation and the music are the critical moments that define the play. What purpose are the rewind scenes? Why does Jason Mast (Christopher Dietrick) need to see those events played out again?  Can those moments be clarified?

The play is called Famous and we get that through the opening moments of the show so, how does the show progress? The main character has already reached his pinnacle. So, what is the conflict?   

Well, it’s easy to see that others want to be famous as well.  Why would they be at his home?  No one there seems to be celebrating his Academy Award nomination.

But, seeing the action of “I want to be famous” in action and dialogue is another matter.   

The famous guy needs to hold onto his fame, however that manifests itself, and the conflict is the interactions with others at the party including the producer that congers bad memories.

Everyone wants to be famous.  Few reach that goal, but they all try. One will focus the comments of the actions of the actors to enlighten.   

Christopher Dietrick(Jason Mast) has a very good look and is very believable in the role.  The character is shy and gives off a warm glow to the strangers he meets.  Underneath he is terrified to open the door.  He has an overactive imagination, highlighted by the chaos of shadows, which is why he sees his younger self and mother during the waking hours of his constant nightmare.  He moves in the direction of observation to find out who he is and why he got to be famous.  He must set aside his contemptuous feelings for the night and move toward his next big goal. While Dietrick has a very good look, the character’s objective needs to hold on to fame no matter the cost. As the actor, he can’t play the ending, because it’s a downer. But by observation, he gathers the information to stay on top, until he makes a fatal mistake.

It is through Derick Breezzee we see Young Jason. How he was manipulated and belittled by his mother, how she encouraged him to stay with male friend who were going to show him the “business”.  He takes the mental hits after these encounters but moves on with his life to reach the ultimate goal, that of becoming famous.  Breezzee (that’s got to be a stage name) does well and is very likeable in the role.

Markus Silbigeris Dylan Mast, Jason’s younger brother. He is the no so good looking, not so talented, and the not so famous younger brother. Dylan lives, or stays with his famous brother away from their mother who didn’t’ have the same effect on his career or life. Dylan is a ne’r-do-well who really doesn’t know how anything works or how it works to become famous.  He takes a gun to his throat thinking it will be the route to immortality and famous but has seconds thoughts.

Alexander Daly is Ryan Logan a man with limited success and the best friend to Jason Mast through their ventures together growing up and in films. Ryan is bisexual with conscientious aspirations.  He has an anything goes mindset but by that same token he is very grounded in his life and what he hopes to accomplish. Does he push hard enough to get what he wants?  That is questionable. Still, Daly does some very fine work in this production.

Rosanna De Candiais Celeste Whitley a manager who loves to control all things around her, not letting her client go overboard, and she keeps the press at arms length.  Her role is to keep everything above board, legal, nice and tidy - to help her client keep his fame at all cost. But, she slips, wanting to hold on to her client, even if it means sleeping with his brother.  De Candia, need a backstory, as a way to fill in the missing gaps, things to add to a character that makes mistakes.  It is a good performance but one that she can add to.

You’re only as good as your last film and Gregory DePetro as Jack Rossi fills the bill as a sleazy producer who will take advantage of those he deems worthy of his attention.  The name Jack Rossi is loathed by the famous one and possibly hasn’t had a decent hit in some time, which is a reason, he is coming back to the well. In the party tonight he is making his comeback and destroying many lives in the process. DePetro does well in the role as he defines the sleazy part of Hollywood.

Megan Davis is Alyssa Rossi, Jack’s daughter and one who lives a cloistered existence in all that is Hollywood.  Alyssa is the icebreaker, the one who lowers everyone’s defenses by plying them with drugs and alcohol.  Her scruples are limited to the lowest rung of the moral ladder.   Davis is very watchable.

Decker Sadowskiplays Heather Hayes someone who wants to move from TV to motion pictures.  She is at the party tonight to see if there is some kind of compatibility with the famous one. Heather appears to have scruples not letting the 16-year-old girl have drugs but gives in from social pressure.  At this moment, she has fallen, leaving her moral code as a footnote in her unwritten biography. Heather seems strong willed at times but falls into an unnecessary trap. Sadowski has to work harder keeping the character good, honest and in line to what is right in Hollywood.  One must also see, in the end, that all is lost from her, at least on this night.  Sadowski has room to grow but shows incredible potential.

Thomas McNamarais Brody James, a boyfriend to Heather and uninvited guest to the party.  He is a writer, like everyone in Hollywood, and manages to get a private meeting with the famous one while looking for his girlfriend.  He is unsure of his capabilities but will manage to hang in on the party until he gets his girlfriend back or a screenplay deal.

McNamara has a very good look and should do well in this industry providing the breaks come his way.    

Jacqi Vene is Caley Vene a 16-year-old girl who also wants to be famous but is in way over her head.  Finding a physical partner this night has been a troublesome adventure until she meets a man with no scruples at all. Vene has her moments.

Kenny Johnstonhas multiple roles as Paulie Sinclair, a man who preys on young boys promising them the world.  Also, Johnston plays Lawrence Michaels, a director who will not have any of his actors inebriated on the set. He defines what is right in Hollywood and Johnston is terrific as that character and in this role. It is actually one of the bright spots from a host of characters with less than ideal traits.  Johnston also plays the TV Host.

Rachael Meyers plays Jason’s mom and does some really fine work with the character.  She works on his behalf but takes his career to extremes by plying him with pills to keep him thin, calling him fat, and giving him to suspicious men to further his career.  Ultimately, she wants some of the money he is making now, she wants to be part of his life, and she lets nothing get in her way. If only Jason would pick up the phone, or let her into his home she could make things right again. Meyers is also terrific in the role though hardly sympathetic.

Other members of the crew are as follow:

Larae Wilson– Costume Design

Matt Rumer– Prop Master

Scott Casillas– Sound Design

Nick Hurtado– Sound Engineer

Linda Michaels– Hair & Make-up Design

Kristin Bolinski– Stage Manager

Avery Reagan– Assistant Lighting Design

Joseph Cervantes– Audio Technician

Run! And take someone who loves the Hollywood glitz and glamour to show them another side of the business.

Tickets:   www.famoustheplay.com

Reservations:  323*378*6969

The 11:11

1107 N. Kings Road

West Hollywood, CA  90069