Review: Expecting to Fly

Expecting to Fly

Theatre Planners at the Elephant Space

Reviewed by Neal Weaver
January 31, 2012

Photo by Mark Barnes

Michael Hyman’s long one-act takes its title from the Neil Young song. It’s set in late evening in a spectacularly cluttered NYC loft apartment (artfully designed by Keith Mitchell). A young man, Jared (Justin Mortelliti), comes barreling in drunk, high, angry, and exhausted. As he disrobes and prepares for bed, he talks and complains nonstop to someone we can’t see. Eventually, Sean (Casey Kringlen) emerges, and it seems that the men are estranged former lovers. Yet unanswered questions lurk: If the two have had a breakup, why are they still cohabiting? And why is there no bed, only a small sofa?

Jared is exhausted and wants only to sleep, but Sean insistently berates him for his self-destructive vodka swilling and promiscuity and suggests that they’re an attempt to escape the love and closeness he fears. To which Jared can only reply, “You don’t understand me.” Sean sets to work to re-create the happy moments they’ve shared in the past (“I want to remind you what it’s like to be happy,” he says). Jared alternately allows and repulses Sean’s attempts to close the gap between them.

At first they seem merely a pair of ex-lovers playing the blame game, but gradually we realize that more is going on than we’ve been told. It’s a tale of passionate love and loss, touching on issues of faith and trust, with elements of the supernatural, metaphysics, and exorcism. Hyman brings us a taut, convincing, carefully calibrated anatomy of a close yet stormy relationship. And director Kiff Scholl gives the piece a faithful if surprisingly athletic production, with the actors frequently leaping from platforms, climbing the furniture, or tumbling on the floor. It’s a little disconcerting at first, but it serves to underline the oddity and subjectivity of the tale. Still, I’d gladly have traded the gymnastics for clarity of diction. The words aren’t inaudible, but sometimes they’re muffled or swallowed.

The actors are deeply committed to their roles and play off each other in a subtle and intriguing symbiosis. Mortelliti is masculine and volatile, flinging himself around violently in his inarticulate pain. Kringlen is more purposeful and feline, determined in his attempts to make his partner admit the strength of his love.

Sound designer Corwin Evans provides a soundtrack of big-city ambience, and Matt Richter’s lighting cleverly draws us into the strangeness of the tale.

Presented by Theatre Planners at the Elephant Space, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. Jan. 28–March 4. Fri. and Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m. (323) 960-5772 or www.plays411.com.

Announcing: “Expecting to Fly” Begins Performances Jan. 21

WORLD PREMIERE OF
EXPECTING TO FLY BY MICHAEL HYMAN
BEGINS PERFORMANCES JANUARY 21

OPENS SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 AT THE ELEPHANT SPACE
FOR SIX WEEKS ONLY

The world premiere of Expecting to Fly by Michael Hyman, directed by Kiff Scholl, is set to begin preview performances on January 21 at the Elephant Space in Hollywood. There will be two additional previews on January 22 and 27, with opening night on Saturday, January 28 at 8:00. Expecting to Fly will play through March 4.

Expecting to Fly is a dark and sometimes humorous journey through the young minds and memories of Jared and his former lover, Sean. As the two men look back on their time together, they try to come to terms with what they lost, and experience that one last perfect kiss, to set each other free. Playwright Michael Hyman’s credits include Love Will Tear Us Apart at he Hudson Guild Theatre in Los Angeles, Ice In A Hot World at Bank Street Theatre in New York City, a workshop production of Happiness at Manhattan Theatre Club, and Jaye Sits at the Harold Clurman Theatre, among others.

Award-winning director Kiff Scholl most recently served as director of Hyper-Chondriac at the Asylum Lab. Other Los Angeles directing credits include Kill Me, Deadly and Shake at Theatre of Note, and Don Giovanni Tonight, Don Carlo Tomorrow at Sacred Fools, about which the LA Times said, “Director Kiff Scholl has few peers at keeping us intrigued.” The cast of Expecting to Fly, in alphabetical order, will feature Casey Kringlen (as Sean) and Justin Mortelliti (as Jared). The set design is by Keith Mitchell, lighting design is by Matt Richter, costume design is by Shannon Kennedy, and sound design is by Corwin Evans. The stage manager is Victoria Watson, and Expecting to Fly is produced by Racquel Lehrman and Theatre Planners. Expecting to Fly is a guest production at the Elephant Space.

General seating admission is $10 for previews, and $20 for regular performances. The regular running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 7pm, through March 4 only. Tickets are on sale now, and may be purchased online at www.plays411.com/fly, or by calling (323) 960-5772.

The Elephant Space is located at 6322 Santa Monica Boulevard (one block west of Vine), in Hollywood. Street parking is available.

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01-09-11

Announcing: World Premiere Play “Expecting To Fly” Begins Performances January 21, 2012

WORLD PREMIERE OF
EXPECTING TO FLY BY MICHAEL HYMAN
SET FOR LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

PERFORMANCES BEGIN JANUARY 21, 2012
OPENS SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 AT THE ELEPHANT SPACE

Racquel Lehrman and Theatre Planners have announced they will present the world premiere of Expecting to Fly by Michael Hyman, directed by Kiff Scholl, for a limited engagement at the Elephant Space in Hollywood. There will be three preview performances on January 21, 22, and 27, with opening night set for Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 8:00. Expecting to Fly will play through March 4.

Expecting to Fly is a dark and sometimes humorous journey through the young minds and memories of Jared and his former lover, Sean. As the two men look back on their time together, they try to come to terms with what they lost, and experience that one last perfect kiss, to set each other free. Playwright Michael Hyman’s credits include Love Will Tear Us Apart at the Hudson Guild Theatre in Los Angeles, Ice In A Hot World at Bank Street Theatre in New York City, a workshop production of Happiness at Manhattan Theatre Club, and Jaye Sits at the Harold Clurman Theatre, among others.

Award-winning director Kiff Scholl most recently served as director of Hyper-Chondriac at the Asylum Lab. Other Los Angeles directing credits include Kill Me, Deadly and Shake at Theatre of Note, and Don Giovanni Tonight, Don Carlo Tomorrow at Sacred Fools, about which the LA Times said, “Director Kiff Scholl has few peers at keeping us intrigued.” The cast of Expecting to Fly, in alphabetical order, will feature Casey Kringlen (as Sean) and Justin Mortelliti (as Jared). The set design is by Keith Mitchell, lighting design is by Matt Richter, costume design is by Shannon Kennedy, and sound design is by Corwin Evans. The stage manager is Victoria Watson, and Expecting to Fly is produced by Racquel Lehrman and Theatre Planners. Expecting to Fly is a guest production at the Elephant Space.

There will be three preview performances of Expecting to Fly on Saturday, January 21 at 8pm, Sunday, January 22 at 7pm, and Friday, January 27 at 8pm. Opening night is set for Saturday, January 28 at 8:00. General seating admission is $10 for previews, and $20 for regular performances. The regular running schedule is Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday at 7pm, through March 4 only. Tickets are on sale now, and may be purchased by calling (323) 960-5772, or online at www.plays411.com/fly.

The Elephant Space is located at 6322 Santa Monica Boulevard (one block west of Vine), in Hollywood. Street parking is available.

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12-05-11