Thespian Thoughts – Light Up the Sky – Theatre Review by Sandro Monetti

LIGHT UP THE SKY
Laugh out loud funny, this fast paced comedy lights up the Los Angeles theatre scene this winter.
– Theatre Review By SANDRO MONETTI

The show revolves around a group of self absorbed theatre folk preparing for the opening of a play that will make or break them.

Even though Moss Hart’s classic is set in the 1940’s, the egomaniacs, divas and hothead characters – most of whom were based on real leading lights of the theatre at the time – are all showbiz archetypes still thoroughly recognizable today.

Winning most of the laughs with a fine mix of flamboyance and perfect comic timing is David Hunt Stafford as the hyper emotional director of the show within a show. But every cast member mines the script for hilarious moments, especially Stephanie Erb as the indulged star and Arthur Hanket and Meredith Thomas as the cracking-up husband and wife co-producers.

Huge praise to director David McClendon for breathing new life and laughs into an old theatreland favorite, to set designer Jeff G. Rack for creating the grand hotel suite setting and to costume designer Michele Young for the picture perfect outfits, especially the peach dress which I heard many audience members wishing was part of their own wardrobe.

One of the characters in the show describes the hours immediately before a play opens as “magic time.” That’s appropriate. For if you go and see this show, you’re in for a magic time.

LIGHT UP THE SKY

Written by Moss Hart. Directed by David McCledon. Produced by David Hunt Stafford.

Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm (Dark Nov 28 & 29) until December 22 2013.

At Theatre 40, 241 S. Moreno Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Tickets: Thurs & Fri $24, Sat & Sun $26. Reservations 310-364-0535 or online from www.theatre40.org

CAST
Bryan Bertone, John Combs, Nick Denning, Stephanie Erb, Arthur Hanket, William Murphy, Flora Plumb, Elain Rinehart, David Hunt Stafford, Meredith Thomas, Martin Thompson, Cathy Diane Tomlin.

CREDITS

Stage Manager – Don Solosan
Assistant Stage Manager – Priscilla Miranda
Set Designer – Jeff G. Rack
Lighting Designer – Ric Zimmerman
Sound Designer – Bill Froggatt
Costume Designer – Michele Young
Publicity – Philip Sokoloff

Thespian Thoughts is a theatre review article on Actors Entertainment, a channel on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.