[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Write Act Repertory’s Lost Cellphone Weekend, written by Stephen Gilbane, directed by Darrin Yalacki, produced by John Lant and Tamra Pica, and running at The Brickhouse Theatre April 5-27.
Inspired by the brilliant Billy Wilder film from 1945, The Lost Weekend, about a man struggling with alcoholism, Lost Cellphone Weekend takes on the addiction we all have with our digital screens and pocket communication devices…cellphones. Some might say it’s just as destructive and probably almost as addictive. A silent threat. Namely, it keeps us all from speaking to each other!
The story revolves around two musical theatre writers determined to meet a tight deadline for entry into the musical theatre competition. They must write an entire musical in under two weeks, and it has to be absolutely brilliant. No pressure then!
One of them has the bright idea, inspired by his mopey teenage daughter, to create a musical about the worldwide addiction to cellphones and base it on one of his favorite movies, in a film noir style.
As they work on this opus together, we see it all unfolding onstage beside them. It’s a wonderful concept and it works flawlessly. The writers also become characters in the show, now set in a remote village in Maine, purposefully bereft of cell towers and wifi. A young couple is on a weekend break, from work and from cell phones! Hilariously noire-ish characters sing their way around the difficulties of no contact, no uploading, no online presence of any kind. She’s fine with it, he is having a breakdown…
The Lost Cellphone Weekend songs are wonderful and very, very funny, and the cast absolutely blew me away!! How lucky we are to have such talent in the tiny characterful Brickhouse Theatre in NoHo!
The show has so many delightful twists and turns, crazy characters and insightful old Hollywood-style montages, I really can’t list them.
This musical is brand new, and highly original, with songs that are wonderful and memorable and so well performed by this absolutely fantastic cast!
I really cannot recommend Lost Cellphone Weekend enough! It has only two more weekends sadly…but you can make it a part of your Easter celebrations and support new NoHo theatre!! It would make a great Hollywood Fringe show!!! Just a suggestion!
Where:
The Brickhouse Theatre
10950 Peach Grove St, NoHo Arts District, CA 91601
When:
April 5-27
Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30pm, and Sunday matinees at 2pm. (No shows Easter Sunday April 20)
Tickets:
The Lost Cellphone Weekend Cast
Lance Bagley, Birdie, Scott Di Lorenzo, Lauren Faulkner, Trevor Murphy, Courtney South and Jess Spruiell.
The Creative Team
Produced by John Lant and Tamra Pica
Written and Composed by Stephen Gilbane
Directed by Darrin Yalacki
Choreographed by Misty West
Casting by Tamra Pica Casting
Music Direction by Daniel Pietruska
Accompanist by Grace Balint
Lighting and Set Design by Zad Potter
Associate Producer Jonathan Harrison
Stage Manager – Abigail Westman
Percussion – Nancy Guzman
Additional Music Recording – Erich Rausch
Costumes – Susan Eiden and Darrin Yalacki
Publicity – Sandra Kuker-Franco of Sandra Kuker PR