MAD ABOUT GOING MAD
Los Angeles-based Theatre Movement Bazaar is dedicated to developing a unique style of theatre rooted in physical action which merges dance, theatre, music, and cinema, heightening physicality to create provocative storytelling. Their latest production at the Odyssey Theatre, Going Mad: Alice in Hollywoodland, was written by Richard Alger and directed by Tina Kronis, co-founders of Theatre Movement Bazaar.
Norene Flowers, Kara Sandefur, Manny Marin and Tony Gonzalez
Norene Flowers and Elizabeth Mackessy
Going Mad: Alice in Hollywoodland is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Set in a present–day Hollywood TV and film studio, Alice (luminous Norene Flowers) tries to make her dreams come true as a production assistant. But she soon falls into the cruel court of the entertainment industry where everyone is subject to the wayward whims of the studio executive Regina (red dress-clad Victoria Davidoff), including the writing team of Adam Lopatka (Hatter), Emma Baker (Mouse) who speaks up for Women’s Equality in the work place, and Sam Yang (Hare) who can’t seem to write a new opening scene for Alice, bumbling grips Tony Dumm (Manuel Marin) and Tony Dee (Art Sandoval), and Blanche the Diva (Cara Schell Sandefur), all of whom assist in making the backlot into an enchanted scene of accidental surrealism with circus music often playing in the background.
The Ensemble
Scenes move along at a fast pace with the 17 actors giving it their all to entertain the audience with lots of laughter. Well-choreographed dance breaks between scenes entertain during set changes, making it seem as if everyone is there to not only make a name for themselves but to party by holding a Wrap Party even before filming has started. And every so often, a mound of hula hoops seems to spin Alive into yet another level of studio lunacy.
The Ensemble
At times it seemed the organized pandemonium onstage was meant to confuse us, until some wise words of wisdom were shared to bring us back into the writer’s view of what it must be like to work on an out-of-control Hollywood sound stage. And occasionally, Humphry (Tony Gonzalez) pops up to encourage others to join him in Improv games, even though it seemed the play really was being done that way.
Sam Yang and Adam Lopatka
Kara Sandefur, Tony Gonzalez, Norene Flowers, Manny Marin, Alex Bravo
And as her first day winds down, Alice enjoys an impromptu manicure from Max (Alex Bravo, who also portrays Tuttle Lloyd, Regina’s assistant) who shares his wisdom on how to survive the absolute madness and superficiality around her by reminding Alice, “A little powder, a little paint, makes a woman what she ain’t!” Which makes more sense, perhaps, than Alice’s earlier observation, “if I knew today would be a trainwreck, I would have taken the bus.” Such is life in Hollywood!
Norene Flowers and Alex Bravo
Norene Flowers, Tony Gonzalez, Manny Marin
Produced by the Odyssey Theatre and Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy, the two-week run in West L.A. was made possible by an LA County Creative Recovery LA initiative grant funded by the LA County Board of Supervisors through the American Rescue Plan Act. Established in 1929, the theater training program at Los Angeles City College is one of the oldest and most respected training programs in the country. It has trained countless numbers of students who have gone on to successful careers in the entertainment industry. The Odyssey has partnered with the Academy since 2008 to offer young theater artists who display exemplary drive and creativity the opportunity to work in a professional theater environment.
Cristian Venegas, Norene Flowers, Victoria Davidoff
Adam Lopatka, Emma Baker, Sam Yang
photos by Johnny Montage
Adam Lopatka, Emma Baker, Sam Yang and Norene Flowers
Going Mad: Alice in Hollywoodland
Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd
Thurs-Sat at 8
ends on May 25, 2024
for tickets ($15 to $25), call 310.477.2055 or visit Odyssey Theatre
