Reviewed by Martίn Hernández
Reviewed by Martín Hernández
The Skylight Theatre
Through November 22
RECOMMENDED
Linzi Fenix and Tessa Claire Hersh (Photo by Tyson Lindo)
Nicknamed “Klex” as a child due to his affinity for klecksography, the creation of artistic inkblots, Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach would later use his artistry to develop a tool for diagnosing one’s mental state. “Tell me what might this be?” was the supposed query made to his subjects upon being shown the inkblots, with an assurance that there was no right or wrong answer. For the characters of Kelly Younger’s charming, funny, and touching play, the question serves as a touchstone as they navigate their fragile relationships, from 1922 Zurich to contemporary Los Angeles and sometimes both locales at once.
Justin (Elijah McNally), a psychometrics grad student, is heartbroken when a harried UCLA student Aimee (Carolina Rodriguez) awkwardly flees a seminar on Rorschach after realizing she is in the wrong room. Justin had been the presenter, and since Aimee was the only attendee and this session was a factor in completing his dissertation, his future career may now be in shambles.
Cut to an equally disappointed Hermann Rorschach (Matt Ross), also desperately in need of a breakthrough as his work is being vilified as pseudoscience. Despite this, his devoted friend and colleague Emil Oberholzer’s (Paul Culos) maintains an unwavering faith in Hermann’s work. He presents Hermann with an anonymous subject’s responses to the inkblots for analysis, Hermann is elated when Emil confirms his interpretation of the subject’s age, mental state, and other factors. He is angered, however, when Emil will not identify the subject, putting the kibosh on Hermann’s publishing a book providing more proof of the scientific validity of his theories.
Back in LA, Justin shows up at the same restaurant where Aimee is meeting with her roommate and movie wardrobe worker Dana (Tessa Claire Hersh) and Dana’s flighty girlfriend Olive (Linzi Fenix channeling Betty Boop. What follows are actions that will strain all the characters’ bonds, cross multiple eras, and shine a light on various shades of love and longing.
Working in tandem, director Cameron Watson, the ensemble, and the tech designers deliver an enticing production that mines Younger’s humor and pathos with equal assurance. Younger’s wit is on hilarious display in a time-space encounter when Olive, a self-absorbed actor, mistakes Emil for a background actor and laments the vagaries of Hollywood. Hersh and Fenix convey the delicate balance between love and career that are challenging a couple at a crucial crossroad. Rodriguez and Justin display tender chemistry as two vulnerable people tentatively exploring the prospects of togetherness.
Scenic designer Tesshi Nakagawa’s multi-level set, which includes sundry inkblots painted on the floor, while Nicholas Santiago’s projections present facsimiles of Hermann’s inkblots. Their variety makes clear that Hermann was an artist prior to becoming a scientist. Kate Bergh’s costumes complement the characters’ personalities, from Olive’s tight fitting dresses and miniskirts to Dana’s dowdy jeans and t-shirts to the early 20th century garb of Emil and Hermann. Jeff Gardner’s sound design can rumble the seats but it also calms with its nature sounds, while Jared A. Sayeg’s lighting boosts the hypnotic effect of the dream sequences.
Despite an underlying apprehension, Ross’s effusive Hermann and Culos’ stoic Emil come to be seen as resolute associates. Younger takes artistic license in portraying their friendship, adding a poignant edge to his character’s level of loyalty.. And Culos’s Emil demonstrates his own fidelity by clutching to his chest research documents Hermann had trashed.
Emil would ensure that Hermann’s work, never recognized as valid while he was alive, would gain worldwide recognition and endure long after Hermann’s untimely death at 37. Tell me what might this be but a commitment to friendship, art, science, and humanity.
The Skylight theater, 1816 ½ Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; Fri.-Sat., 8 pm. Sun., 2 pm; thru Nov. 22. https://app.opendate.io/s/rorschach-99 Running time 90 minutes with no intermission
