Gaslight House
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
Whitefire Theatre
Through June 4
Recommended
The Whitefire Theatre, named for the transformative powers of the hottest level of flame, has proudly claimed the title of the only theater in the country to have continued live theater during the pandemic. For the past two years, the space welcomed over 250 live solo shows to be live-streamed from its mainstage, and in more recent months to be seen by live audiences with proof of vaccination. For its 40th anniversary season, Whitefire makes its return to full productions of ensemble works this year with the world premiere of Gaslight House: a dark comedy centering around a psychiatrist who returns to his family home to institutionalize his twin sister, ultimately having a battle of wits with his gaslighting family members in an increasingly desperate attempt to reach the truth. This play is the third installment by local playwright Howard Skora in a series of plays focusing on family trauma, and features a cast of six hand-picked by Skora himself, who also directs his own play. In case you didn’t already know, the play’s namesake term, “gaslight” is neatly defined on the info page—a contemporary phrase inspired by a 1938 play that means “when someone intentionally twists your perception of reality for their own gain.”
According to a recent interview on The Jimmy Dore Show, Skora comes from a stand-up comedy background, and his mastery of humor shines in the show’s writing. Gaslight House appears to be a perfect example of his modus operandi; the witty banter and verbal comedy keep you laughing and enthralled throughout what very quickly becomes a jaw-droppingly outlandish series of plot twists. This play is absolutely unpredictable from start to finish, in the best way, and the audience is consistently kept in suspense of what’s actually real. There is also a subtle brilliance in the intentionally flippant, repeated use of common mental health-related phrases like “triggered,” “lived experience,” and of course, “gaslight,” consistently undermining the believability of each character that uses them. Skora clearly did his research—though the members of this family all exhibit mental illness and a history of gaslighting, each one is a distinctly different archetype and seems to accurately reflect the distinctly different diagnoses they might each receive in real life.
These archetypes are magnificently brought to life by the actors, several of whom previously starred in Skora’sother works. There isn’t a single weak link on stage; the performances are exceptional across the cast, from the adoption of mannerisms to the physical comedy to the dynamic use of volume. (Be warned, this play has a LOT of shouting!)
The design elements are a perfect complement. The show frankly wouldn’t be the same without the use of video projection and pre-recorded content featuring the actors, effectively covering scene transitions while also actively augmenting the audience’s understanding of the characters. Set designer Dusti Cunningham has successfully created an elaborately decorated yet navigable hoarder’s house set with a plethora of small and obscure props—some of which are destroyed on stage each night in what can only be described as ballsy move.
Gaslight House is an unforgettable experience that puts the rage in outrageous and the theater back in therapy. The Whitefire Theatre is also quite the find for people seeking a venue that balances independent, small space theater with hospitality and a slightly more refined energy. Readers should take note that with the recent relaxation of mask mandates in LA County, Whitefire is currently mask-optional, but if you’re comfortable, this writer cannot recommend it enough.
Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks; Sat., 8 pm; thru June 4. https://gaslighthouseplay.com/ Running time: two hours with one 10-minute intermission.
