Goldstar

• 3.0
• Written on Sep 28 2009

I really enjoyed they play. The idea of music to allow us to listen to the different conversations taking place worked great. The acting was top notch, specially enjoyed "the man" and "Johnny." Sal as Johnny singing in the second scene was magnificent. The play may also remind you to pick up your phone or visit your mother if you haven't lately.

• 4.0
• Written on Sep 14 2009

Wonderful cast; beautifully and powerfully staged; great writing; tasteful production design and direction; music adds a lot to the production. Best theater we have seen since arriving in Los Angeles in 1995. On a par with performances we have seen at the National Theater in London. Highly recommended.

• 2.0
• Written on Sep 12 2009

I was scanning this week's postings on Goldstar.com and came across the website's weekly special, which offered free tickets to Solitude. My boyfriend and I decided to go because we only had to pay $6 for the processing fee (per ticket.) Anyhow, we read the description of the play and found it to be a bit corky... watching complex relationships that intertwine, part ways and reveal themselves at a gathering following a funeral (quite the story, don't you think?!)

When we arrived, we were quickly impressed with architectural detail of the new Los Angeles Theatre, and not to mention the venue's ample and intimate seating. The stage is bare, which helps draw the viewers' attention towards the actors, instead of being distracted by the stage's decor.

The play was unique, in that the story line presented itself in very layered ways. Scene One begins at Gabriel's mother's funeral, with only a handful of guests. These guests later reveal their relation to the deceased at a gathering thrown at Gabriel's house following the funeral (guests include Gabriel's ex girlfriend and her son, two of his old high school buddies, his limo driver, and Gabriel's current wife) All the characters mingle at the gathering, revealing a story line that is rich in tragedy, humor and self discovery.

Between scenes, the actors do a slow "cha-cha" dance, which is reminiscent of the dance scene played out in the movie Beetle Juice... entertaining. On the flipside, the play has several draw backs, one being that the director touches on the political climate for Latinos during that time, but does a weak job of delivering their struggle to claim identity and maintain their culture in the United States. On the flip side, I think they do a good job of weaving all the characters together at the end. All this to say is that the play is worth catching if you want something refreshing to watch.

Lastly, the actor who plays Johnny does a superb job of singing in the second half (his talent is breathtaking and well worth staying for after the intermission)... And, not to mention the character Chelo, who does not read any lines, but entertains the audience on stage with the cello -this is a great treat for lovers of live music.

Overall, I'd give it a 2/5 out of 4.