louise on the left (coast)

I'm choosing to call this my "blogger out takes" of my review of South Coast Rep's current production of "In A Garden." The truth is this is a second review (or " un -review") of, yes, the very same play. I apologize for any confusion, however if you'd like to read my "real review" of the same play, Howard Korder's "In a Garden" now playing at SCR , then click here . What you will find here in this post is more of a personal discussion of the same play. (I know, a little weird, but, just indulge me and go with it.) ______________________________________ It all began, my overwhelming trepidation about writing about this, when I read the following statement in the press release: " In a Garden is not a traditional drama or comedy..." Anytime I see a play described as “not a traditional comedy or drama,” little alarms go off in my head making me wonder if this is some sort of escape clause for what will ult

Howard Korder’s “In a Garden,” is now receiving its world premiere on South Coast Repertory’s Julianne Argyros Stage. Written by Howard Korder. 
Directed by David Warren. South Coast Repertory’s production “In A Garden,” Howard Korder’s newest play, is a fascinating and engrossing evening of theater, both expertly directed and acted. Right from the start I was hooked by this superbly crafted, well-acted play, knowing that for the next few hours it would be like unwrapping the cellophane on an exotic yet unfamiliar delicacy that offered new insights on a familiar theme, but with an entirely unexpected center. All four actors in the play shine in their roles, each one enlisting the kind of timing and experience only well-seasoned stage actors can deliver, making it a resoundingly satisfying evening of theater. Mark Harelik as Othman, the Minister of Culture of a fictional Middle Eastern country, crackles with hawk-like intelligence and employs a masterful delivery of Korder’s

Recently I was fortunate enough to attend opening night of Adam Gwon ’s new musical “ Ordinary Days ,” currently enjoying its West Coast premiere at South Coast Rep in the Julianne Argyros Stage through January 24 I went with my theater buddy (and blogging guru) Prince Gomolvilas of Bamboo Nation without either of us really knowing too much about the show to start with other than it was a “Chamber Musical” (whatever that meant) about “people from New York.” I was curious how a story about New Yorkers struggling to bring meaning to their lives against a backdrop of the usual pathos and passion in the city that never sleeps could actually be something new, something that we haven’t heard before. Not only has this tale already been examined in other musicals, such as in "Rent" or "Company," I also spent my twenties in Manhattan, and felt pretty confident that this might be a theme I was all too familiar with by now. I was a bit concerned that telling this same story