Interview: Rachel Parker on her World Premiere of ‘The Wolfe & The Bird’

The need for personal isolation during 2020 appears to have led to a plethora of solo shows being developed and performed online and in person in which performers create mostly autobiographical tales meant to unify their own experience with the rest of us. So when I heard about Rachel Parker’s world premiere of her darkly funny, moving ‘The Wolfe & The Bird’ premiering at the Matrix Theatre on September 18, I decided to ask her about its development as well as the many characters which play a part in her story via voiceover artists.

(Shari): Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about your show, as I expect you are very busy in final rehearsals this week.

(Rachel): I’m happy to be speaking with you, Shari.

(Shari): Please share a little about your theatrical background in the Los Angeles area.

(Rachel): My first theater community here was Westside Comedy Theater. I’m a huge fan of the improv principles “yes, and-ing,” “there are no mistakes,” and “following the fear.” Eventually, I found my way into a LaBute play for one Fringe Festival, which led to my directing a play at Fringe the following year. Two of the actors from that play were Theatre of NOTE members and encouraged me to audition for the company. It was there that I aligned with actress/playwright Dagney Kerr to act in an early version of her poignant play “Deanna and Paul” being put up at another theatrical community of hers in NoHo. I’ve now collaborated a few times with some of those artists. And through the magic of Actors Access, I was able to collaborate with multi-Ovation-nominated Stefan Marks in his artfully wackadoo play “Space.”

(Shari): The play’s description states, “No time to sleep. No room for error. No pleasing mom. A young girl struggles to find herself against the backdrop of 1980s small town America in the world premiere of The Wolfe & The Bird, a darkly funny and deeply moving solo play written and performed by Rachel Parker (Ovation-nominated Space at the Stella Adler Theatre).”  Am I right in assuming the play is autobiographical, told as an adult looking back on how she got to where she is today. Is that a correct assumption? And if not, please fill me in!

(Rachel): It is autobiographical, yes. It is not, however, presented as a reflection piece. The audience experiences Rachel receiving and perceiving her life and the people in it at ages 8, 12, 15, and so on. The play does begin with a Timeless Rachel but quickly moves to Rachel at 8.

(Shari): You share in program notes that the play exists because of Isadora O’Boto and Matt Hoverman. How did they influence its creation?

(Rachel): I met Matt Hoverman at Naked Angels’ “Tuesdays@9” back in New York. Not only is Matt a talented playwright and Emmy award-winning TV writer, he’s a deeply gifted doula of solo shows since 2001. Innately, Matt is able to meet a solo show artist where she is with her work — and with herself — and to gently tease loose and shed all the stuff that encumbers the telling of a story. Matt leads with loving kindness. He’s simply the best kind of teacher. Isadora O’Boto is also a Go-Solo Workshop alum. She and I synced up and became accountability partners almost upon meeting. Isadora is an exceedingly deep listener. No matter how inchoate a scene of mine is, Isadora’s able to detect my aim and question me in a fashion that nudges me toward reaching my destination. Ours has been the most validating collaboration I’ve had to date.

(Shari): Tell me more about the 1980s small town where you grew up and which of its residents we meet in the play.

(Rachel): My house was situated between an idyllic small lake and a dangerously busy road in a village between Flint and Pontiac. My blue collar father adored that lake, which he himself grew up on. Almost all family downtime was spent on the lake, and a lot of it with my mother’s Flint modeling school coworkers and students. The audience will spend a bit of time with models Kim, Jett, and Rob with the Ken doll hair. Before Rachel starts interacting with her ballet instructor and a couple high school teachers, the audience will get to know Dana the babysitter, who hangs out nonstop with her boyfriend Matt in the basement… that is until they take Rachel and her sister on a road trip to a Pontiac hospital.

(Shari): No doubt most women grow up having issues with their mom, feeling as if there is no pleasing her. Do your observations about her outlook on life figure prominently in the play?

(Rachel): Yes.

(Shari): Does your relationship with her figure into the play’s title The Wolfe & The Bird?  Or if it doesn’t, what does it reference?

(Rachel): My village boasts a number of dirt roads — Wolfe and Bird Roads are but two of them. A number of nights were spent dreading those two roads. For me, they induced terror. For my mother, they provided a place to let out some of the deathless pressure within her. I would also add that it suggests different parenting styles.

(Shari): Tell me a bit about working with so many other actors via voiceover, including James Heaney, Dagney Kerr, Ivory Tiffin, Madeleine Townsend, Phil Ward, Silvie Zamora on the creation of all the characters they portray in the play.

(Rachel): For about eight months, director Alina Phelan and I had been meeting up every few weeks or so over Zoom, fleshing out the script. I believe it was while Alina was cleaning one day that it occurred to her how nice it would be to simply see Rachel receive the words and actions of the surrounding characters. We asked Silvie Zamora and James Heaney to partake in a Zoom reading (Silvie reading all the female characters and James all the male ones). Immediately it became clear how necessary it was to have other energies supporting the storytelling. We were so fortunate to have Silvie take on the role of my mother and to get one socially distanced in-person rehearsal and conversation with her. Silvie’s EQ is through the roof, and I simply can’t imagine anyone else in the role. As my mother is a very complicated human being, having Silvie voice all the female roles would be a disservice to my mother and to this fine actress. Same for James Heaney, who voices my father.

Casting the other actors was a dream. I was familiar with everyone’s work (save Silvie) and knew that, as they were all pros, one Zoom table read would suffice. A week later, we held individual recording sessions at The Matrix with our sound designer Stephen Epstein. It all felt pretty seamless. And safe.

(Shari): Which of these characters do you think figures most prominently in your story?  Why?

(Rachel): Silvie and James as my parents, of course. But Phil Ward as my social studies teacher and Dagney Kerr as my ballet instructor are pivotal players. These teachers provided Rachel anchors for artistic expression and chances to have “wins” during a childhood ruled by chaos.

(Shari): Tell me about bringing Alina Phelan onboard as director.  Have you two worked together before?  Did you work together in person or remotely on The Wolfe & The Bird?

(Rachel): Alina is a veteran member of NOTE. I’d been admirer of her work as both actor and director for years. Once WOLFE & BIRD was in a pretty good place, I tapped-tapped her email inbox to see if directing a solo show would be of interest to her. Thankfully, she was receptive to reading it. Turns out Alina and I both hail from Michigan! And she instantly understood the people I was striving to bring to life. Most likely it’s due to the sheltering in place that Alina’s schedule was open enough to even consider this project.

(Shari): And you have quite a well-known technical team with Lighting Design by Matt Richter, Sound Design by Stephen Epstein, and your Stage Manager Kelly Egan. No doubt you have worked together before?

(Rachel): It’s a tech-heavy show, and dang am I lucky to be surrounded by such talent! Stephen Epstein and I worked together on “Space” so enlisting him to design sound for this was a no-brainer. And Kelly Egan, well… I certainly knew her work at NOTE but this is my first opportunity to work with her, and I couldn’t be more grateful. This show couldn’t happen without her. I know she would demur at such a statement but it’s true. And Kelly is the one who brought Matt Richter onto the team. Truly thanking my lucky stars for this gem of a man and lighting designer. His visceral understanding of story and how to technically support it is simply beyond me. To be profiting from his expertise is a dream. Matt’s taken the production to another level.

(Shari): What is the message you hope audience members walk away with at the end?

(Rachel): Expression is vital. Perfection expression is not. Art heals. Good teachers make the world go round.

(Shari): As a former teacher, I love seeing my former students succeeding. So I really appreciate you expressing that belief in your play.  Thanks so much for speaking with me!

The Wolfe & The Bird premieres September 18 through October 10, with performances on Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 18; Sept. 25; Oct. 2 (no evening performance on Oct. 9). Saturday at 2 p.m.: Oct. 9 ONLY and  Sundays at 2 p.m.: Sept. 19; Sept. 26; Oct. 3; Oct. 10, at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave. in L.A. 90046 (west of Stanley Ave., between Fairfax and La Brea – arrive early and be mindful of street parking restrictions). Tickets are $18, available in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5219775 or at the box office prior to each performance, based on availability. Admittance is limited to ages 12+ with proof of vaccination required – no exceptions – and masks must be worn properly covering your nose and mouth throughout the performance as mandated by the County of L.A.

Photos by Joshua Stern

Graphic Design by Damon Pablo

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ISOLATE.MEDITATE.CREATE WITH JESSICA LYNN JOHNSON – STAY AT HOME DAYS 43 – 49

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 43: Recalling a time when our mental, physical, spiritual or emotional health was compromised.

Day 44: Recalling our rock bottom as well our peak time in our lives.

Day 45: Recalling a meaningful moment of celebration in our lives.

Day 46: Calling to mind our biggest fan and supporter.

Day 47: Calling to mind our Fathers or Father Figures.

Day 48: Calling to mind our Mothers, Mother Figures or Mother Nature.

Day 49: Calling to mind our “Chosen Family”.

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.


 

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ISOLATE.MEDITATE.CREATE WITH JESSICA LYNN JOHNSON – STAY AT HOME DAYS 36 – 42

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 36: Recalling a betrayal we suffered.

Day 37: Recalling a crowded event or gathering we attended in the past.

Day 38: Exploring our sexuality.

Day 39: Exploring our resentments.

Day 40: Revisiting our childhood home in our minds.

Day 41: Exploring our understanding of God.

Day 42: Recalling a time when we acted as a leader.

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.


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ISOLATE.MEDITATE.CREATE WITH JESSICA LYNN JOHNSON – STAY AT HOME DAYS 29 – 35

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 29: Recalling a Best Friend.

Day 30: Recalling our proudest accomplishment.

Day 31: Letting our imaginations carry us into a fantasy.

Day 32: Processing a conflict in our lives.

Day 33: Exploring our purpose.

Day 34: Exploring a leap of faith that we took.

Day 35: Recalling an act of generosity.

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.


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ISOLATE.MEDITATE.CREATE WITH JESSICA LYNN JOHNSON – STAY AT HOME DAYS 22 – 28

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 22 – Identifying an Influencer in our lives.

Day 23 – Recalling a moment of Recognition in our lives.

Day 24 – Getting in touch with our feelings of jealousy and envy.

Day 25 – Exploring Coronavirus Covid-19 as a metaphor.

Day 26 – Exploring a coming of age memory.

Day 27 – Identifying an enemy in our lives.

Day 28 – Recalling a time of exploration in our lives.

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.


 

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Isolate.Meditate.Create with Jessica Lynn Johnson – Stay at Home Days 16 – 21

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 15Recalling a great Love story from our lives.

Day 16Get in touch with a shameful secret, an embarrassing story, or the thing we thought we would never share with anyone.

Day 17Imagining climbing a mountain to reach our dreams and removing weights that hold us back.

Day 18Examining a life lesson that continues to circle back around and around again in our lives. 

Day 19 – Recalling a piece of Art that was meaningful to us.

Day 20 – Recalling a crossroad moment in our lives.

Day 21 – Recalling a holiday tradition.

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.


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Isolate.Meditate.Create with Jessica Lynn Johnson – Stay at Home Days 8 – 15

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 8Exploring our Super Powers.

Day 9 – Exploring Control & Surrender.

Day 10 – Exploring the concept of PAUSE & RESET during COVID-19.

Day 11Exploring the “Other Sides” of people that come out during COVID-19.

Day 12Imagine your lives as a Movie Trailer. 

Day 13Recalling an unhealed childhood memory that we can offer closure to as an adult.

Day 14Examining our MISSION and our PASSION.

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.

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Isolate.Meditate.Create with Jessica Lynn Johnson – Stay at Home Days 1 – 7

Everyday of the Stay at Home mandate of the COVID-19 crisis, Jessica Lynn Johnson, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER, invites you to create your one person play through her guided meditation and visualization. She encourages you to isolate, meditate, and create as an artistic community EVERY DAY as we are in the STAY AT HOME mode.

Day 1 – Exploring themes of FEAR & HOPE during the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis

Day 2 – Exploring themes of LOSS & GAIN during the coronavirus COVID-19

Day 3 – Exploring our HAPPY PLACE

Day 4 – Exploring SPEED WRITING on themes of Health, Home, Change & Community

Day 5 – Exploring a memory of a struggle that you were able to survive

Day 6 – Exploring our most predominant feeling during COVID-19

Day 7 – Exploring a relationship that has been on the forefront of our minds during COVID-19

Jessica Lynn Johnson, recipient of BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST AWARD, is the Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC, a company dedicated solely to the Direction & Development of one person plays. Jessica is passionate about the transformational power of solo theatre and has aided in the creation of over 100 solo shows (and still going strong)! Visit www.JessicaLynnJohnson.com for more information on Jessica’s work Directing and Developing 1 Person Plays.


Voices from the Fringe: Writer/Performer Ross John Gosla

Returning to this year’s Fringe after his 2017 Producer’s Encore! Award-winning Desert Warrior: A Benghazi Story is writer/performer Ross John Gosla. He is premiering his new solo show, Sexual Misadventures of a Straight White Male: A Privilege Story.

Ross spoke with Better Lemons about the new piece and what he’s been involved with since we saw him last.

Better Lemons: What have you been up to since the 2017 Fringe?
Ross John Gosla: Wow, hard to believe it’s been two years. Been keeping busy. I did a short run of Desert Warrior in January 2018, followed by a couple of one act plays. I was brought on staff full-time at the Complex Hollywood, where Monica Martin and team have been working at full speed to improve and renovate since she took over ownership last year.

I filmed an episode of the web series The Wasteland, in which I played a captured insurgent in a dystopian future. I shot a big commercial at the beginning of this year directed by an Academy Award-winner (NDA). Most recently, I provided the narration for the documentary Masculinity that Inspires Change that dropped on Amazon Prime this past May.

BL: Tell us a bit about the new piece. What was the inspiration?
RJG: The piece follows a privileged straight white male named “Ross” as he goes on an adventure through the Man Make Machine in order to become a real man in 2019. When the Weinstein scandal broke, I found myself quickly saying, “But I’m not like that,” as I’m sure many men did. And we men tended to vocalize that sentiment loudly.

But as the narrative evolved, a resounding female voice said: “Shut up and let this play out.” And as it did, the moment of epiphany came. I asked myself if there were any areas of sexual violation that I have committed, any lines crossed, any boundaries not respected. And in that introspection, I found a myriad of unchecked behavior — behavior that in a different set of life circumstances could very well lead to a Weinstein-esque persona.

From there, I applied the same formula I used with Desert Warrior. I took that behavior I revealed and a couple other seemingly unrelated events (my Taekwondo years, and a couple of key conversations with my Dad), put them into the brain mixer, and here we are!

BL: Your director, Steph Martinez, is a Fringe first-timer. What’s her background?
RJG: She is a blessing from Heaven. We met at the theater program at Arizona State in 2007. A similar training style — the program primarily utilizes Viewpoints as a tool to train actors and devise new work. We reconnected here in LA and are part of the same acting studio, Studio 24/7. A brilliant actress and artist, she has masterfully shaped the piece and kept me truthful in the work with insightful notes and questions. Most importantly, she has brought a perspective that is crucial to any conversation dealing with improving gender relations.

BL: What message do you hope to deliver with this piece?
RJG: Understanding and healing. I believe there are certain unifying male experiences that all men share. I’d like to think that if the show causes one other man to honestly examine his “gray areas,” and he comes to recognize those times when he may not have actually had consent. Or he was false with his intentions, and learns from those mistakes and can foster a higher ideal in the future, that would be a powerful message indeed.

BL: How does it feel to be back at the Fringe as a performer?
RJG: I love the Fringe, it’s my absolute favorite time of the year. You meet so many like-minded artists and make so many new friends. The electricity in the air is palpable — this year especially. All the participants seem extra pumped!

BL: What words of advice would you give to Fringe neophytes?
RJG: Dive in headfirst, have fun, hydrate, rest when needed; rinse and repeat.

BL: What other shows playing this year sound intriguing to you?
RJG: On my must-see list:
At the Complex:
It’s Personal
Klingon Tamburlane
Pocketmon!
This Way Yonder
At the Broadwater:
Meet Me in Mizzery
At the McCadden:
No More Toys
At the Stephanie Feury:
George.

Sexual Misadventures of a Straight White Male: A Privilege Story plays June 14-
29 at the Complex Hollywood’s Flight Theatre, 6472 Santa Monica Blvd. Specific dates and showtimes, as well as ticketing information, can be found on the Fringe site.


LIVING IN LA LA LAND, part I

Love it, hate it or feel indifferent about it, Damien Chazelle’s film La La Land is more than just a movie for those of us in the arts living in the Hollywood area.   Dealing as it does with the unexpected and yet somehow inevitable love affair between two aspiring artists, a jazz pianist (Sebastion) and an actress (Mia), La La Land uses the landscape and the reality of the world in which we live here to spin elaborate romantic fantasies about the vagaries of fate.  That is, as we pursue the fulfillment of our professional hopes and dreams, is there indeed a destiny that can be achieved by persistence and hard work, or it all simply the luck of the draw, with very little regard for talent or deserving?

After having watched the movie twice and read the published screenplay – which is significantly different in some crucial respects from the film — I do feel a lot of admiration for what the 31 year old Mr. Chazelle was able to accomplish.  He has a great sense of rhythm, pace and visual imagination – qualities he also displayed in his earlier film, Whiplash.  He’s a sharp observer of nuance between characters – take a close look at that scene between Sebastian and his older sister (Laura), where we learn everything we need to know about Seb in a scene that never stops moving forward — as well as the nuance of the entertainment industry itself, veering between documentary-like depictions (those heartless casting sessions) and tongue-in-cheek lampooning (the “hot” screenwriter, Carlo, who is starting a franchise based on the Goldilocks story written as a home-invasion thriller.)  More than that, this guy can write some multi-faceted dialogue, even when it comes to diehard romantic conventions.  It’s harder to appreciate out of context, but take a look at this exchange early on when Seb helps Mia try to track down where her car is parked:

MIA: Strange that we keep running into each other.

SEB: It is strange.  Maybe it means something.

MIA: I doubt it.

SEB: Yeah, I don’t think so either.

These lines give Gosling and Stone so much to work with as they navigate the perilous tightrope of attraction.  Such a nice sense of spontaneity without ever forcing the characters to talk about how difficult it is to trust each other.  Add to this the visual excitement he stirs up in La La Lands‘s first and last 10 minutes – each as pleasurable a piece of pure filmmaking as any American film in recent memory — and there is no overstating it.  This guy’s got game.

There are, however, two things in this admirable film that I have to take issue with — one of which goes back directly to the La La Land that we live in, and something that I don’t think Mr. Chazelle accurately captured.

Okay, and this is where I guess should say that warning, something of a hallmark of our times: SPOILER ALERT!  As if you who have followed me this far wouldn’t have figured out by now that I’m going to be discussing this film in some depth.  But the last thing I want is even one reader lying awake at night, quaking with anger at having some surprise spoiled.  The essence of life is surprise – find it wherever you can, keep it close to your heart.

One of the hardest things about writing that ventures into the world of romance — especially hetero romance — is being equally fair to both characters.  The terrain of love/relationships is so littered with emotional, political and neurotic minefields — well, I think we all get the perils, especially when a man is doing the writing.  In my (admittedly male) opinion, I think the young Mr. Chazelle acquits himself pretty well.  Sebastian and Mia both seem like recognizable inhabitants of SoCal, the kind of folks who slave away at demanding and often demeaning jobs while waiting for their lives to take off.

What I have trouble with, though – and where I think that La La Land goes slightly off the rails – is in Mia’s decision to write a one-woman show for herself.  In fact, it’s not even Mia’s idea to do it – she takes her cue from Sebastian telling her that’s what she should be doing, based on Mia’s having told him that she used to make up stories and act them out when she was a kid.  Huh?  Say what?

Hey, take it from this Twisted Hipster – a veteran of 25 years in New York theater and 20 years in Los Angeles theater — it’s HARD to write a good play, much less a good full-length one person show.   HARD.  Just because you made up little skits when you were a kid doesn’t mean you have what it takes to command a stage for 70 minutes.  And there’s nothing in Mia’s personality or life experience to make us believe she can do it.  (She’s not an introvert, not a word person, not a great storyteller.)  It kind of makes sense that Sebastian suggests it — he wants her to be special and  believes she can do anything!  And it kind of makes sense that Mia would take a shot at it, wanting to please him, to live up to this crazy idea he has of her.  But there’s no way she would go through with it.  No way.  She’s too smart to court such certain disaster.  And her friends would head her off at the pass, they would sit her down and tell her: girl,  what are you thinking?  You don’t have the chops to write a good monologue, much less a good show.  And the risk of money and reputation just isn’t worth it.

It’s telling that — while we see several examples of jazz and Sebastian’s obsession with it – we don’t see a single moment of Mia’s show.  We see her scribbling down ideas, we see her pre-show, and we see the lights come up on the skeletal crew of an audience when the show is over, but Chazelle cannot even imagine a highlight for us.  We hear afterwards that she cannot even afford to pay the rent on the theater — something that is highly unlikely, since every theater owner I’m aware of demands full payment in advance, especially for a one night rental.  Then again, just getting the show up at all takes the cooperation of friends and fellow artists, none of whom seem to be involved in helping Mia make this happen.

No, as a screenwriter myself, I understand what young Chazelle had in mind.  Mia has to crash and burn doing this crazy idea that Sebastian had for her – which is then redeemed when it turns out that a casting person was in her skeletal audience (wow!) and this casting person will become the agent in making all her dreams come true (double wow!)  Because ultimately it’s all about the power of love to transform the ordinary into the magical, and it’s about belief – believing in the power of that love – that makes the transformation possible.

(But really – a major casting person goes to a small theater in North Hollywood to see an unknown actress in the one performance of her one woman show?   Love may make miracles happen, but this is truly one for the ages.)

It’s a credit to Damien Chazelle’s skill as a filmmaker, I suppose, that his romantic fable succeeds in seducing us to the degree that it does.  He knows the world of jazz and the industry town that is Hollywood to a remarkable degree.  But the reality of making theater here and what it takes to put on a play?

Not so much, amigo.  No, not so much.

ps – Here’s a fun read about why no one went to Mia’s solo show.