A zany comic romp by internationally acclaimed playwright Peter Quilter (Glorious!, End of the Rainbow) about writers, how they write, the stories they tell and the secrets they keep. When three young novelists gather at an isolated cottage for a writer’s retreat, their hilarious books jump off the page and onto the stage. June 14 – June 30, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. International City Theatre, located in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach, CA 90802;(562) 436-4610; InternationalCityTheatre.org.
Bestseller
Reviews
...Bestseller offers an amusing look into the writing mind and the truly hilarious inventions that can arise from it. That Davis’s and Spanjian’s characters carry the play– itself a written invention– is a testament to the creative process and the joy that can flow from it.
While solidly performed, its pacing is somewhat slow and inflections sometimes off so that comic lines are slightly mistimed and fall flatter than they should. A future production of this play might consider varying the pacing to enhance the main story’s humor. That might also avoid its jarring contrast with the rollicking novel scenarios.
But the quality of the acting, lighting effects on which many of the scenarios depend (designed by Stacy McKenney Norr) and accomplished British playwright Quilter’s profuse and adept language combine to create a solidly entertaining production in the capable hands of director Jane Page.
Actors Julia Davis and Sam Spanjian breathe life into these writers’ random narratives. An old hand at directing Quilter productions, Jane Page helms the world premiere comedy with a deft hand. The talented cast do a brilliant (and sometimes acrobatic) job of conveying Quilter’s tale.
The stellar performance by Ms. Worthington, along with the outstanding supporting cast and incredible directing by Jane Page makes ‘Bestseller’ a joy for all see. There is a strange ending of this entertaining two act play that will leave you wondering long after you leave the theater.
What is particularly fun about this production is the playwright bringing to life the characters being written by the playwrights, all of which are characterized by the very talented Julia Davis and Sam Spanjian...
A temporary respite would be a ride down to Long Beach to catch this very entertaining evening of theatre.
The celebrated Playwright had a brilliant plan for this world premiere, namely letting the audience into the heads of the writers whose ideas come to life while they germinate into what will turn out to become a bestseller. Directed by Jane Page at a similar frantic pace as say, Noises’Off, this play is more of farce than a comedy, slightly over the top, straining for laughs but it does have some funny lines.
The ensemble actors are tasked to outact the characters within the context of the play. Given the conceit that it's all just a roaring farce, it's acceptable, but is sometimes difficult to bear. Histrionics as the writers' characters come to life is appropriately over the top. The choice for the setting to be somewhere that folks have English accents is a choice that made some of the dialogue difficult to understand. But, the show moves a pace and there are moments of pure fun.
There is much more opportunity for this work to grow. I craved higher highs and lower lows, truly dark dangerous moments and truly sensual ones. It was like a dinner made without seasoning; perfectly prepared from the freshest ingredients, yet there was something missing.
There are the makings of a truly hilarious play, but what is there is funny. There just needs to be contrast, conflict, and something to give it an unpredictable kick at the end.
Bestseller has moments that reveal the potential for a fine and funny farce. In its current state of incubation, however, this two-hour romp is more madcap than comedy.
With major rewrites, the germ of an idea that has inspired Peter Quilter’s latest comedy might make for a play that regional theaters would want to produce and audiences would tell friends to see. As a work in progress, however, Bestseller’s occasionally hilarious moments do not add up to a satisfying whole.
...Bestseller offers an amusing look into the writing mind and the truly hilarious inventions that can arise from it. That Davis’s and Spanjian’s characters carry the play– itself a written invention– is a testament to the creative process and the joy that can flow from it.
While solidly performed, its pacing is somewhat slow and inflections sometimes off so that comic lines are slightly mistimed and fall flatter than they should. A future production of this play might consider varying the pacing to enhance the main story’s humor. That might also avoid its jarring contrast with the rollicking novel scenarios.
But the quality of the acting, lighting effects on which many of the scenarios depend (designed by Stacy McKenney Norr) and accomplished British playwright Quilter’s profuse and adept language combine to create a solidly entertaining production in the capable hands of director Jane Page.
Actors Julia Davis and Sam Spanjian breathe life into these writers’ random narratives. An old hand at directing Quilter productions, Jane Page helms the world premiere comedy with a deft hand. The talented cast do a brilliant (and sometimes acrobatic) job of conveying Quilter’s tale.
The stellar performance by Ms. Worthington, along with the outstanding supporting cast and incredible directing by Jane Page makes ‘Bestseller’ a joy for all see. There is a strange ending of this entertaining two act play that will leave you wondering long after you leave the theater.
What is particularly fun about this production is the playwright bringing to life the characters being written by the playwrights, all of which are characterized by the very talented Julia Davis and Sam Spanjian...
A temporary respite would be a ride down to Long Beach to catch this very entertaining evening of theatre.
The celebrated Playwright had a brilliant plan for this world premiere, namely letting the audience into the heads of the writers whose ideas come to life while they germinate into what will turn out to become a bestseller. Directed by Jane Page at a similar frantic pace as say, Noises’Off, this play is more of farce than a comedy, slightly over the top, straining for laughs but it does have some funny lines.
The ensemble actors are tasked to outact the characters within the context of the play. Given the conceit that it's all just a roaring farce, it's acceptable, but is sometimes difficult to bear. Histrionics as the writers' characters come to life is appropriately over the top. The choice for the setting to be somewhere that folks have English accents is a choice that made some of the dialogue difficult to understand. But, the show moves a pace and there are moments of pure fun.
There is much more opportunity for this work to grow. I craved higher highs and lower lows, truly dark dangerous moments and truly sensual ones. It was like a dinner made without seasoning; perfectly prepared from the freshest ingredients, yet there was something missing.
There are the makings of a truly hilarious play, but what is there is funny. There just needs to be contrast, conflict, and something to give it an unpredictable kick at the end.
Bestseller has moments that reveal the potential for a fine and funny farce. In its current state of incubation, however, this two-hour romp is more madcap than comedy.
With major rewrites, the germ of an idea that has inspired Peter Quilter’s latest comedy might make for a play that regional theaters would want to produce and audiences would tell friends to see. As a work in progress, however, Bestseller’s occasionally hilarious moments do not add up to a satisfying whole.