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The Intern
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Garrison, Picket
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
Self-preservation determines so much about how we lead our lives. Take one idealized, moral politician; expose him to a woman whose clever repartee, philosophical insights, convincing ideologies and throbbing, sexy bod is his for the asking...and, before you can say, "this is wrong", he's asking!
Voila! All the right ingredients, including a very literate script, some great acting, and excellent direction, help make The Intern, now playing at Theatre Tribe in North Hollywood with an extended run until September 24, well worth your attention.
As the patrons enter the theater, the hero, apparently sleeping on the floor of his office, sets the stage for the play to follow. And this office, as fashioned by set designer Jeff McLaughlin, looks like an M. C. Escher painting, for there are stairs going everywhere. Each set of stairs will be useful for entrances and exits as the play progresses.
As the play commences and the lights come up, Bud Rex (David Haydn), he, of fair face and sweet smile, is talking with his executive assistant, April Pyle (Moira Squier), when in comes newspaper reporter Maxine Carpenter (Corie Vickers) to get the story on Congressman Rex's plans to run for President. The interview goes smoothly until the reporter asks about his newest intern, Diana Sheridan (played for the first time by understudy Elizabeth O'Brick, who is built like the house bearing her name!).
When things are moving along at a rather pleasant pace, it takes Rex's close friend and manager, Jerry Tondino (Michael B. Silver), to ramp things up several notches. In fact, every appearance on stage by Mr. Silver creates electricity. Keeping the play moving forward, he exudes the energy that drives the plot and holds our interest completely.
And if that isn't enough, the heat built up between the intern and her intended mark keep eyes and ears finely tuned for every intelligent, libidinous word that is uttered. Unfortunately, our performance had in the audience three women in our row that giggled incessantly, thereby creating distractions to our concentration on what was happening on stage.
Every part of The Intern is excellent: Stuart Rogers' direction keeps the characters moving up and down those Escher steps; lighting designer Luke Moyer does a fine job of keeping the lights trained on several different areas at any given moment; but, above all, Jon Cellini's thoughtful script - mature, sophisticated writing created to be appreciated by a mature, sophisticated audience--is first rate. Can you hear me, ladies?
The plot thickens considerably as Act II opens, for we are given a piece of information that adds to our concern for these people. This is possibly the ultimate strength of this play - that we do care! Who among us has a "clean soul"? Who among us would know how to attain one? Some thoughts The Intern raises for all of us.
The Intern, Theatre Tribe, 5267 Lankershim Blvd., No. Hollywood. Thurs. - Sat. @ 8:00 PM. Tix $20 Tel. 866-811-4111
Very Highly Recommended
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