{"id":669,"date":"2023-06-07T00:34:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T00:34:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/?p=669"},"modified":"2023-06-12T00:47:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T00:47:53","slug":"no-place-like-gandersheim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stageraw.com\/remake\/no-place-like-gandersheim\/","title":{"rendered":"No Place Like Gandersheim"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

No Place Like Gandersheim<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reviewed by Terry Morgan<\/strong>
\nSkylight Theatre<\/strong><\/em>
\nThrough June 25<\/strong><\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

There have already been films and other works of art concerning the \u201cMe Too\u201d movement, but\u00a0No Place Like Gandersheim<\/em>\u00a0is the first play I can think of that talks about its aftermath. That isn\u2019t even the main subject of the piece, which concerns the plight of a woman writer trying to get her voice heard without censorship or meddling \u2014 but its inclusion (along with the coincidental timing of the current writers\u2019 strike) makes for a compelling script. Oh, and did I mention it\u2019s a time-travel comedy? The world premiere production at the Skylight Theatre is very entertaining and benefits from an excellent cast, especially a consistently hilarious performance by Shannon Holt.<\/p>\n

In the 10th<\/sup>-century German town of Gandersheim, nun Roz (Jamey Hood) has written a play. The abbess Berga (Shannon Holt) has allowed it to be produced, with nuns from the abbey, such as Madlen (Lauren Gaw), performing in it. Berga\u2019s relative, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto, is even coming to see it, although Berga and Madlen are concerned that the subject matter might be too raunchy for the time period. Things aren\u2019t much better for Roz when she travels via some magic keys to our current day, where her TV show \u201cThe Order\u201d is getting intrusive notes from the incoming new studio head, Mallory (Holt).<\/p>\n

Hood, an actor whose work I\u2019ve admired for a long time, is very good here as the resilient if frustrated Roz. She\u2019s effective in humorous moments, like medieval wheeling-and-dealing to convince people her show is actually pious (\u201cYou like Jesus, right? Yeah, we all do.\u201d) and in serious ones, in which Roz wonders if women writers will ever be truly free enough to tell their stories. Gaw is tartly amusing as the uptight Madlen, and Charrell Mack exudes charisma as uploaded future producer Vita. Holt, an LA theater treasure, is a marvel in two roles, bringing enormous energy and brilliant comedic skill to the show. She gets the most out of every line, as in a moment in which Mallory wonders why they can\u2019t include nudity in the nun show.\u00a0 (\u201cDon\u2019t they ever take a shower?\u201d) It\u2019s one of the funniest performances I\u2019ve seen this year.<\/p>\n

Director Randee Trabitz gets strong work from her cast, keeps the pace percolating and pulls off an impressively smooth transition from the medieval abbey to the modern-day office. Dement\u2019s writing is witty and sharp, and overall\u00a0Gandersheim\u00a0<\/em>is a successful play \u2014 but it does seem as if she\u2019s taken on more subjects than can be fully explored in a ninety-minute show. For example, I thought it was interesting that both men and women attempt to change Roz\u2019s writing, but instead of examining this further, the play chooses to deal with motherhood and child\/parent dynamics, which seemed less on topic or successful. And some quibbles \u2014 we never learn why these keys allow Roz to time travel, nor does the title seem to connect up to the play in any meaningful way. That said, this is still a very enjoyable production with a fantastic cast.<\/p>\n

Skylight Theatre, 1816 \u00bd N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles; Mon. 7:30 p.m. (except May 29), Sat. 8:30 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m.; through June 25.\u00a0https:\/\/skylighttheatre.org<\/a>. Running time: one hour and thirty minutes with no intermission.<\/em><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”902″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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