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Interview with Todd Robbins and Teller

Posted on Nov 15, 2013 under Archives, Interviews, Other interesting people, Uncategorized | No Comment

Magicians Teller and Todd Robbins

The entertaining and scary “Play Dead” is an homage to old séance shows, a modern thrill ride, stunning magical illusions and a dark comedy all in one performance.

Co-written and directed by Teller (the smaller quieter half of Penn & Teller) and co-written and performed by magician Todd Robbins, “Play Dead” is currently running at The Geffen Playhouse through December 15.

Robbins serves as the guide for the evening and acts as a one-man history of serial killers and séances exposing tricks that mediums often use while integrating his own macabre effects.

Spookiness abounds as Robbins launches the show by ingesting a light bulb.  At various points in the play the audience is plunged into complete darkness, where luminous specters appear and the audience is surrounded by ethereal sights, sounds and touches of the returning dead.

During the play there is plenty of audience participation. “Each show is unique because different people are chosen as part of the performance,” said Teller.

“Play Dead” was sparked from Teller’s and Robbins’ desire to create a séance based play.  It originated as Robbins’ “Dark Deceptions” New York fringe show which evolved into “The Charlatan’s Séance.”  Teller saw the play and the two began conversations to rebuild the show.  The two ran a series of workshop performances in Las Vegas before heading to New York.  “The workshops helped us know how invasive we could make the show without doing actual harm to the audience,” said Robbins.

Both magicians acknowledge the challenge of balancing thrills and humor.  “We also knew that we had to make the experience fun.  We knew people enjoyed being scared but we wanted to make sure everyone leaves full of joy,” said Teller.

Do they expect LA audiences to differ from audiences in New York?  “If you put people side by side in the dark and have luminous towering three dimensional ghosts appearing in their face it doesn’t really matter what region of the country they came from,” said Robbins.

A big part of the play’s success is the ability to mix chills with laughter.  Robbins sums up it well, “You are never so alive as when you are scared to death.”

Performances are Tuesday – Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 3 and 8 PM, and Sunday at 2 and 7 PM.  Prices range from $57 to $87 and are available in person at the Geffen Playhouse box office, online at www.geffenplayhouse.com or by phone at 310.208.5454.

Clowning around during rehearsals

Clowning around during rehearsals

I sat down with Teller and Robbins in-between their rehearsals to discuss “Play Dead,” magic and their upcoming projects.

 

 

Falcon Theatre Presents The Mystery of Irma Vep

Posted on Oct 31, 2013 under Archives, Uncategorized | No Comment
ane Twisden’ (Matthew Floyd Miller) and ‘Lady Enid’ (Jamie Torcellini). Photo by Chelsea Sutton.

Jane Twisden’ (Matthew Floyd Miller) and ‘Lady Enid’ (Jamie Torcellini). Photo by Chelsea Sutton.

The Falcon Theatre is currently playing The Mystery of Irma Vep, written by Obie Award-winner Charles Ludlam, directed by Jenny Sullivan, and starring Matthew Floyd Miller and Jamie Torcellini.  It is the second production of the Falcon Theatre’s 2013-2014 Subscription Season.

The Mystery of Irma Vep

The Mystery of Irma Vep

The Mystery of Irma Vep is filled with vampires, werewolves, comic transvestites, highbrow literary jokes and lowbrow Egyptian graffiti.
Written in 1984, Irma Vep is the late Charles Ludlam’s most successful horror sendup, a silly compilation of gothic fiction from Jane Eyre, slapstick comedy and fast costume changes.  All eight roles, male and female, are played by the two lead actors in a rush of wigs, funny voices and drag acting.

Miller makes his first appearance as Jane Twisden, Mandacrest’s severe-looking housekeeper, while Torcellini first turns up as the gnarly, peg-legged servant Nicodemus. But before you can you say “gender-bending,” Miller transforms into Lord Edgar Hillcrest (Mandacrest’s brooding owner) and, later, into a bloodthirsty intruder. Torcellini, with the flick of a blond wig and a high-pitched girlish giggle, becomes Lord Edgar’s new wife, Lady Enid, followed by an insinuating tour guide when the action moves in Act 2 from Mandacrest to “various places in Egypt.”

The plot has something to do with ancient Egyptian curses, werewolves and a jealous ghost. But it’s mostly an excuse to exercise Ludlam’s high-flown sensibility, complete with bad wigs, ominous organ music, buckets of dry ice, an anatomically correct wolf and other sights gags, all cavorting on a  fun-house set design.  Double entendres fly fast and furious, and every character seems to harbor a painful secret.

The Mystery of Irma Vep is playing through November 17, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 4 pm, $27 to $39.50, tickets available at www.falcontheatre.com.

Dinner at RivaBella

Posted on Mar 16, 2013 under Uncategorized | No Comment
RivaBella

RivaBella

It isn’t surprising to recognize a lot of similarities between the new RivaBella and other Innovative Dining Group owned restaurants like BOA and Delphine.   The new Italian inspired eatery is huge (8,000 square feet), attracts a Hollywood crowd of stars and stargazers, is located across the street from BOA on the Sunset Strip and boasts a modern chic design.

It’s unique because it highlights Mediterranean fare thanks to co-owner Angelini Osteria chef Gino Angelini.  The massive space is broken into several different areas – an interior marble-topped bar/lounge, a large dining centered around a double sided brick fireplace with a retractable roof and a few nice rounded big leather booths amidst tall trees, an outdoor patio and a cozy private room resembling a rustic Italian wine cellar.

I visited RivaBella with my good friend Al.  Here is what we sampled:

radicchio salad

radicchio salad

Our salad was a crisp mix of radicchio, polenta croutons, egg and gorgonzola dressing.

eggplant parm

eggplant parm

We loved the comforting eggplant parmesan made with light spinach pasta, ricotta and meat sauce.  This dish is an appetizer and definitely worth ordering.

lasagna

lasagna

Our fave of the night was the lasagna Nonna Elvira with layers of spinach pasta, meat sauce and bechamel.  There are other traditional Italian items including the  hearty Osso Buco with risotto and gremalata.  The menu  also features innovative dishes such as the squid ink crab ravioli, linguini with sea urchin sauce, pizza with quail egg and asparagus and saffron tagliatelle with a prosciutto ragu.  Our other main was the perfectly grilled branzino with sauteed spinach and a Sicilian style sauce.

branzino

branzino

Desserts included a lovely chocolate gelato and a light tiramasu.

gelato

gelato

tiramasu

tiramasu

Dining in such a beautiful ambiance amidst celebrities comes at a price.  Most pasta dishes are around $18 with the exception of the spaghetti with truffle and sausage at $44.  Head downtown to Bestia and a very similar more rustic pasta, sausage and truffle dish will cost you about half as much.  RivaBella boasts the atmosphere and is a perfect spot for a variety of situations.   Bring visiting tourists who want to see a trendy new Hollywood restaurant complete with celebrities diners (we saw Halle Berry), impress a first date with the romantic atmosphere and expensive bill, or just come to enjoy the traditional Italian standout comfort food by the fireplace.  Reservations required 310/278-2060, located at 9201 Sunset Boulevard.

Tasting Dinner at Valentino

Posted on Dec 26, 2012 under Uncategorized | No Comment
Valentino

Valentino

Last week I visited Valentino, the Westside LA fixture that has been serving up regional Italian cuisine for 40 years.  The sophisticated eatery is divided into three dining rooms in earth tones with travertine floors and glass chandeliers.  Oenophiles will savor the extensive 130 page wine list of over 140,000 bottles.  Here is what Matt and I enjoyed while we visited Valentino.

appetizer

appetizer

We were served a nice appetizer of goat cheese wrapped in eggplant and a tasty arancini made with mixed seafood.

scallops

scallops

Next came a nice appetizer of scallops carpaccio with baked cherry tomato, pistachios and an anchovy sauce.

grilled octopus

grilled octopus

Our second appetizer was grilled Mediterranean Octopus with black Sardinian couscous.

first two wines

first two wines

Our appetizers were paired with the above two wines, both very tasty.

pasta with broccalini

pasta with broccalini

We were served two pastas, the first a spaghetti with onions, cherry tomatoes and broccolini and the second a nice rissoto with amarone, gorgonzola and caramelized radicchio.

risotto

risotto

I had the Colorado lamb chop with red wine sauce, potatoes and asparagus.

lamb

lamb

Matt had the veal with porcini mushrooms and a marsala sauce.

veal

veal

wine

wine

wine

wine

These were paired with the above wines.  Our fave of the night was the Torraccia del Piantavigna.

wine

wine

Desserts were fantastic and included the chocolate semifreddo with chocolate hazelnut ice cream, caramelized banana, the cannoli and the vanilla and praline pudding with almond orange cantucci.

cannoli

cannoli

vanilla praline pudding

vanilla praline pudding

chocolate senifreddo

chocolate senifreddo

Valentino is located at 3115 Pico Boulevard, reservations recommended at 310/829-4313.

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