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The Book of Oded: Chapter Two

Reviewed by Vanessa Cate

ALEF Productions, LLC at Working Stage Theatre

Through Feb. 15

Oded Yosef Kassirer’s autobiographical one-man show chronicles his life from the Israeli air force in Tel Aviv to film production in Los Angeles. However, the show does not focus on the cultural differences of two homes worlds apart, but on the struggle that exists no matter where you live — to come to terms with who you are and whom you love.

Oded meets and falls in love with a closeted man in the military named Gil. Together, they forge a deep connection, but the relationship they build is not only based on their love but on hiding their identities from their families and friends. In a moment of panic, Gil even tries to break things off with Oded and tries dating a woman. This does not pan out.

This story chronicles many years, and deals with many issues: expectations, unconditional love, and coming to terms with loss. The most beautiful central idea is that it’s not so easy to come out of the closet, and sometimes it takes moving from one closet to another, slightly bigger, for a very long time.

Oded, recounting the story while playing himself and his other characters along the way, may not quite have the acting chops needed to drive the show home, or to differentiate between characters. But what he does have is charm, and he produces an intimacy that almost seems to hold your hand as he invites you through his memories.

Director Sammie Wayne, IV does a remarkable job of keeping the story active and helping Oded travel through time and across countries on a little black box stage.

The title of this show implies that this is a sequel, but this is not the case. Instead, The Book of Oded: Chapter Two ends on a page where closets are no longer necessary, and how that makes all the difference in the world.

Working Stage Theatre, 1516 N. Gardner St. Los Angeles.; Fri. & Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; through Feb. 15. (323)-375-1284, https://thebookofoded.com