100 Planes
Reviewed by Lovell Estell
Filigree Theatre Company
Through August 4
Lila Rose Kaplan’s drama arrives in Los Angeles for its West Coast premiere courtesy of Austin’s Filigree Theatre Company. At just over 80 minutes, it blends romance and comedy by way of two mingled narratives that aren’t scripted artfully enough to make the show a success, despite good performances.
It’s 1997, and we first meet Kay (Alani Rose Chock) and David (Brennan Patrick) at a school reunion. In their ensuing chat, we learn that Kay is a gifted air force pilot, set to return to a base in Germany, while David, who is all good looks and charm, is working as a weatherman. We also learn that David has a long-standing crush on Kay that has now gone into full bloom, and when she leaves the reunion, he follows her home to woo her further, plopping out onto the floor after climbing through her window.
But Kay is determined to be a success and returns to Germany hoping to train and qualify to operate an elite jet. To do this, she must first get the approval of Major Anne Clarkson (Karen Harrison), who is initially gruff and dismissive towards her. Eventually, Kay wins her over, and Clarkson becomes Kay’s mentor, pushing her to the limits with singular compulsion just as she has done with other lady pilots she has mentored. But Clarkson’s obsession isn’t rooted in good will; instead, it reflects her own frustrated ambitions as a pilot. She is also a lesbian and in a relationship with Monique (Brittany Flurry), a bar pianist at night and secretary to a top-tier commanding officer. Unlike David and Kay, this coupling adds little heft or relevancy to an already murky plot, and towards the play’s end descends into treacly melodrama. In fact, Kaplan’s script doesn’t delve perceptively enough into the interiority of any of these characters effectively enough to make them forcefully convincing.
Director Elizabeth V. Newman draws good performances from the cast, but this is a problematic play that offers little in the way of compelling theater. The thoroughly puzzling, improbable finale and the inscrutable scene shifts makes it even more so. The barebones set by Chris Conard, consisting of a few props (chairs, tables), and a backdrop blanketed with folded white paper airplanes works well.
The Broadwater Black Box, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 5 p.m.; through Aug. 4; www.filigreetheatre.com or (512) 496-5208. Running time: 80 minutes with no intermission.
