Seminar 

Reviewed by Dana Martin 
Pop Up Theater, Inc. 
Through June 2nd 

RECOMMENDED 

Writing is a lonely, fraught and often too precious endeavor. Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar, presented by Pop Up Theater, Inc. explores the self-interest and sensitivity of four aspiring young writers repeatedly lambasted by a savage mentor while they navigate a sea of sexual voracity.

The play unfolds through a series of master classes led by renowned writer and editor Leonard (Tom Gallop). The four young writers hope to gain from Leonard’s insight and perspective, fast-tracking them to success and literary fame — only to discover that he’s an egotistical beast with razor sharp claws who promptly, unapologetically rips through their collective thin skin. Izzy (Tracy Lee), the room’s general object of desire, uses her significant sexual appeal to garner accolades from the otherwise savage teacher. Privileged Kate (Helena Habes), who hosts the seminar at her family’s sprawling Upper West Side apartment, bristles and pouts for weeks after a particularly scathing critique of her work. Douglas (Doug Roland), a good-looking name-dropper and the nephew of a famous writer, is at ease under the circumstances but promptly deflates when Leonard implores him to go to Hollywood where his talents will be best utilized. Martin (Spencer Weitzel), the most self-conscious and the most gifted writer in the class, prefers to keep his writing to himself — particularly after Leonard savagely takes the others to task, shredding any hint of their entitlement. Unfortunately, the audience is never privy to the text Leonard articulately executes, leaving the audience to wonder repeatedly if his observations are accurate or full of shit.

Seminar swings back and forth from pointed social commentary to trite love triangles, seemingly indiscriminately. These people can’t keep their pants on long enough for a rewrite. Rebeck borrows pithy exchanges from her own previous works while implying that the best writing is original and truthful. She too often settles for lowbrow, cheap laughs (for example, lambasted Kate inhales a bowl of cookie dough) rather than examining Kate’s flawed psyche.

The ensemble rises above the woe-is-me tone of the writing and deliver well-rounded, interesting performances. Spencer Weitzel’s Martin is fragile, self-interested and thoroughly engaging. Helena Habes finds a nice arc as ambitious poor little rich girl Kate. Tracy Lee’s Izzy is released, free and airy. Doug Roland’s naivety as slightly dopey Douglas is endearing and amusing. The evening is anchored by Tom Gallop as the masochistic egomaniacal Leonard. The crueler he becomes, the more delightful his performance: a predator circling his prey.

Director Melanie Weisner finds the right tone and pacing of the story throughout and makes excellent use of the unique playing space. Her staging is dynamic, and her eye is impeccable. The lighting, set and costume design, collectively created by the Pop Up Theatre, Inc. team, is simple and adequate. The space itself does much to tell the story and has the large, airy quality of a posh New York apartment.

Writing is not for the faint of heart, to be sure. And while Rebeck doesn’t land upon anything particularly new or original, Seminar is still an entertaining story overall; this writer has a formula and a distinctive voice that she blends throughout like an old pro. Seminar is a textbook example of Rebeck’s unique style. It’s the ensemble, direction and playing space that do this piece justice, which is perhaps the most telling critique of all.

Thymele Arts Theater, 5481 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; though June 2nd. www.popuptheater.eventbrite.com. Running time: 90 minutes with no intermission.