Planning a Wedding One Diasaster at a Time! – Judth Jones
Hello and welcome to Thespian Thoughts. I am your host Judith Jones, here to share with you, a guide to all the latest and greatest small theatre, going on in Los Angeles, California.

This week we are talking about  ‘Planning a wedding….one disaster at a time’, as I.O West in Hollywood presents the hilarious comedy “Hot Pants, Cold Feet”. This 2 man show is written and performed by Will Matthews and Cassandra Smith, who have devised a comical satire on modern wedding madness.

Matthews and Smith

They show their wonderful acting and comedic skills as they take on different characters, highlighting everything from ‘the awkward proposal’ to the cheesy wedding band audition, giving a fun insight into the way the bride and groom often have completely different perspectives when it comes to marriage. This young duo have energy, enthusiasm and fantastic comedic timing which definitely makes this one a Thespian Thoughts winner!

Now it’s time for Fabulous Fashion and this week it has to go to the fantastic little number Cassandra Smith wear when practicing her rendition of the ‘First Wedding dance’…..poledancing style!
And our Fantastic phrase of the week goes a little something like this,
“If you can’t say anything nice, say something fake”
“If you can’t say anything nice, say something fake”

Hot Pants, Cold Feet runs every Tuesday at I.O West, now through April 20th.
And remember,
“All the world’s a stage”
 Written & Performed by :Will Matthews and Cassandra Smith
Directed by Leonora Gershman Pitts

Theatre: IO West
6366 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywod 90028

Reservations www.matthewsandsmith.com
323 962 7560
Tuesdays 8pm, March 2nd-April 20th
$10 admission

WIT is frank, honest and a dazzling life affirming play with wonderful, smart humour.

Thespian Thoughts was blown away at the Terrace Theatre in Hollywood, at what has to be the most incredible acting we’ve seen so far in LA. The Actors Co-op is staging the Pulitzer Prize winning drama, WIT, by Margaret Edison. An outstanding play, the story centres around Vivian Bearing, a professor of 17th Century poetry specializing in the Sonnets of John Donne. After being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, we see the bold journey she embarks on over the course of 12 months, confronting her life past and present. A play about cancer? I hear you all say. How drab? Absolutely not. WIT is frank, honest and a dazzling life affirming play with wonderful, smart humour. It was actually quite ironic how much the audience laughed during the course of 90 minutes, while looking at the set of a patient room in a Cancer hospital. For in essence, this is not a play about cancer, it is a story about a person finding grace for the first time.

A standing ovation was definitely in order for the actress, Nan McNamara’s outstanding portrayal of Vivian. She kept us all engaged, tackling the demanding language with ease and intense emotion. She carried the play with superb strength and brought me to tears by the end of the play.

Nan McNamara

Nan McNamara - after

And now it’s time for Fabulous Fashion. Of course, there is only so far fashion can go in the confines of a hospital room, however, this week Judith Jones really takes her hat off for Mcnamara’s devotion to her craft, as she actually has shaved her head to demonstrate with truth, Vivian’s cancer diagnosis. Not many people would do that in Hollywood, that’s for sure…! Good on you.

And Judith Jones’ phantastic phrase of the play
“Brevity is the soul of wit”

Judith cannot express enough, if there is any play to go and see this season, it has to be WIT!
Running now until March 28th at the Terrace Theatre in Hollywood.

WIT
Directed by Marianne Savell, Produced by David Scales

Featuring: Lori Berg, Beth Castle, Phil Crowley, Allison Freeman, Nan McNamara, Tawny Meres, Daniel J. Roberts, Kathryn Scott, and Preston Vanderslice

Set Designer: Gary Lee Reed
Costume Designer: Paula Higgins
Lighting Designer: James L Moody
Original Music: Joseph King Barkley
Stage Manager: Leticia Gonzalez

Actors Co-op Terrace Theatre,
1760 N. Gower S, Hollywood
For reservations call 323 462 8460, ext 300
Regular: $30
Seniors (60+) $25
Students w/ ID: $20

WIT

Acting in Style host, Allison McNamara, enjoys fashion chatting with personal stylist Wendy Shaw at the trendy Theodore, in the Waterside Shopping Center in Marina del Rey, California. Assisting Allison is the beautiful actor, model, and host of Thespian Thoughts (www.ThespianThoughts.com), Judith Jones.

Acting in Style host Allison McNamara with Stylist Wendy Shaw

Stylist Wendy Shaw with Actor Judith Jones

And thank you Theodore and Andie, the store manager for your kindness.

Theodore – Marina Del Rey
General Information
310-578-5214
4734 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Shopping Price:
Mid Range
Shopping Genre:
Apparel and Accessories, Handbags, and Shoes

Six Degrees of Separation

We are all separated by six people in this world….

Hello and welcome to Thespian Thoughts. Your Thespian Thoughts reviewer, Judith Jones, shares with you a guide to all the latest and greatest small theatre going on in Los Angeles, California.

This episode, Judith takes you to the Westchester Playhouse, for The Kentwood Players rendition of ‘Six Degrees of Separation’ by John Guare. This witty tragicomedy, explores 20th century society, human relationships, and what really drives people: the desire for money, fame, social standing, comfort and a yearning for meaningful human connection. Guare bases the premise of the play around a young African Amercian man who gains access to the homes of upper class New Yorkers by pretending to be the son of Sydney Poitier. The play uses imaginative and intelligent scenes to create a picture of a fragmented society, exploring the simple fact that “everybody on this planet is separated by only six people. Six degrees of Separation…It’s a profound thought….How every person is a new door, opening into other worlds.”

A special mention has to go to the outstanding performance of Joanna Churgin, playing Ouisa Kitteredge, an Upper East Side Art Dealer, who drives the play with strength and compassion. We are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions and betrayal with Willie Daniels performance of Paul. The emotional ride he takes us through is compelling and has to be one of the most exceptional characters Ive seen on stage, throughout my theatre going days here in LA.

Fabulous Fashion: Judith shakes things up a little and gives the Fabulous Fashion award to the wonderful actor who definitely shows us that less is more. Yes, he dazzles us with full frontal, nudity when Paul is caught in an unsavoury situation. As you can guess, this is a family show so we can’t show you any pictures, but we do give a thumbs up to this man’s courageous acting chops. Well done!

Phantastic Phrase :
“Sleeping with you is like sleeping with a Salad with a bad dressing”
Six Degrees of Separation
Directed by Don Schlossman
Produced by Meredith M Sweeney & Jordan Bland
January 8th-February 13th 2010

SYNOPSIS
“Six Degrees of Separation” refers to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know, and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth. The term was popularized by playwright John Guare’s intriguing, insightful exploration of celebrity and the games we play to elevate our significance.

Westchester Playhouse
8301 Hindry Ave, LA CA 90045
(310) 645-5156
112 Seat Venue
www.kentwoodplayers.org

The Kentwood Players - Six Degrees of Separation

“All the World’s a Stage”