“Audition! The Musical”
Sunday, Nov. 5
Santa Monica Playhouse
A review of “Audition! The Musical” at the Santa
Monica Playhouse would be incomplete without mentioning the
play’s setting. In fact, a night at the Santa Monica
Playhouse is more of an event, rather than just a night at the
theater.
In Los Angeles, a city whose obsession with the film industry
trumps attention to small theaters, finding a thriving little
theater is like discovering a hidden jewel.
Tucked behind a brick facade, a block away from the bustle and
glamour of Third Street Promenade, is a cozy community theater
where everyone seems to know each other.
Unlike large production theaters that are overly air-conditioned
and completely sterile, walking into the courtyard at the Santa
Monica Playhouse is like going to a friendly neighbor’s
house. Included in the cost of the ticket is a buffet dinner; a
warm buzz of conversation fills the air as theater patrons swap
stories of their children over a hearty turkey and mashed potato
dinner.
Adding to the refreshing non-L.A. feel of the theater is the
actual theater itself. The entrance has wood accents and intimate
lighting. Child volunteers greet you and usher you to your seat.
Sitting in the small theater feels like watching a show in your
living room ““ every seat has a great view, and if you sit in
the back, the playhouse provides a pillow to keep you
comfortable.
Once snug and settled in for the show, Evelyn Rudie, star of
“Audition! The Musical,” welcomes the audience. The
musical revolves around the chaos and comedy of Hollywood
auditions.
At the age of 6, Rudie was nominated for an Emmy for her
portrayal of Eloise on the television show “Playhouse
90″; however, she tells viewers that although none of the
stories in the play happened to her personally, they are all true
and happened to someone somewhere.
Rebecca Coombs and Serena Dolinsky join Rudie in the
three-person cast, and each take on a variety of roles as Hollywood
starlet wannabes. While waiting for their audition, each of the
characters share advice and criticism as they compete for a role in
an upcoming production. There is the awkward adolescent; the child
victim of an overbearing stage mother; the hyper-confident French
actress; the art school elitist and the Hollywood has-been hoping
to make a comeback.
The play sheds some humorous light on the lunacy of acting
auditions, but after a while, the jokes about dieting actresses and
perverted producers are overplayed. However, from “Get
It!,” the opening number, to the song “Not One More
Day,” the actresses’ never-ending energy while singing,
dancing and acting is impressive.
Rudie is a total professional; her stage presence is stunning,
and her ability to capture the audience’s attention while
speaking is unparalleled. Coombs and Dolinsky both have
extraordinary voices and effortlessly switch from playing one
character to another.
However, the constant wig changes and attempts at French and
Irish accents can be dizzying, and unless you care about the
Hollywood audition circuit, it can be difficult to stay fully
engaged in the production.
Regardless, Rudie’s performance and the ambience of the
Santa Monica Playhouse completely make up for anything that the
musical’s story line lacks. The Playhouse is truly a gem in
this city, and visiting it should be on the top-of everyone’s
Los Angeles to-do list.