The Giant Void in My Soul 

Reviewed by Julio Martinez 
The Pico  
Extended through June 10 

RECOMMENDED 

Playwright Bernardo Cubría explores the human experience of moving from the self-involvement of infancy to the grand-awakening of life. This sudden, cosmic awareness is the focus of The Giant Void in my Soul. During this exquisitely realized comedia, Fool 1(Karla Mosley) and Fool 2 (Kim Hamilton) confront the momentous questions of life only to succumb to the trivial banalities inflicted on them by humanity, as represented by Performer I (Claudia Doumit) and Performer 2 (Lisa Fernandez), and guided by the insightful, imaginative staging of Felix Solis.

The two Fools project a unisexual freedom as they race headlong into every task, reflecting on failure only briefly before they are engrossed by a new titillation. Mosley’s Fool 1 embodies the hopelessness of the tasks as he struggles to have an “original thought,” always supported and encouraged by Hamilton’s Fool 2.

This Ammunition Theatre Company production exudes a synergistic energy, infusing and projecting the talents of the four-member ensemble and the design team of Mark Kanieff (scenic), Sami Ratner (costumes), Lauren Wemischner (lights), Mischa Stanton (sound), Brian Nichols (projection) and Erica Smith (makeup). The quality of the production design is displayed to great affect even at the first meeting of all four clowns at a bar, surrealistically realized by Kanief. Meanwhile, director Solis imaginatively balances the knock-about action with telling tableaus that freeze a brief moment of victory or defeat before they dissolve forever.

A highlight occurs when Fool 1 breaks his tie with Fool 2 to form a union with an unsympathetic soul, portrayed by Doumit. Author Cubría then brings his hapless Fool 1 to the fountainhead of this lifelong odyssey with a meeting with his wonderfully unsympathetic Mother (Fernandez) who reminds him, “How was I to fill your void while I was carrying my own?” The Giant Void In My Soul is a worthy effort by a brave new company in town. 

The Pico, 10508 W. Pico Blvd, West Los Angeles; Fri., 8pm & Sun., 7pm. Extended through June 10. online https://thegiantvoid.eventbee.com; Running time: 80 minutes, no intermission.