After seeing the original Broadway cast of this wonderfully sharp play from Irish talent Conor McPherson, I was delighted to hear that it would be coming to one of my favorite Los Angeles venues, The Geffen.
The Geffen is a beautiful stone building that looks like it might just be the summer home of the theater gods, complete with a courtyard filled with gnarled old trees adorned with colorful hanging lanterns, a particular weakness of mine. Inside, the main stage comfortable seats 525 patrons while still retaining an intimate feel.
Considering my fondness for the original Irish cast, this group of actors quickly charmed their way into my good graces. The story revolves around a Christmas poker game, where the stakes are a man's everlasting soul. Sound like a bit much? Not when you factor in the great comedic timing of the group at large, especially Mr. John Mahoney of "Frasier" fame, whose blind and drunken antics kept me in perpetual giggles, or the sticky suave demeanor of the Lord of Darkness himself, played with a dark charm by Tom Irwin. The overall fraternity among the cast adds a level of endearment to some rather deep questions of life, loneliness, and the everlasting unknown.
If you get a chance to head out to LA in the next few weeks, see this play. And, just for me, walk down the block to get an ice cream sandwich from Diddy Riese. A buck and a half for the world's best cookie/ice cream combo. If you only knew how many times I've driven for hours just to get my hands on one of those little gems....
