Monday, May 10, 2010

Go See This


Really. You should. "I Oughta Be In Pictures" is a really interesting Neil Simon play being put on over at the Las Vegas Little Theatre, one of the community theaters around town. It's about 3 miles west of the Strip in the middle of Chinatown. This month they're putting on this dramedy about an L.A. writer whose long lost teen daughter shows up on his doorstep one day hoping to forge a relationship with him.

And, yes, there's a personal reason I'm shilling for this one. Not only is it a really well-done play, but one of its three stars is frequent Strip Podcast and Petcast guest host Amy Turner, in her first venture into Vegas community theater. Amy, at right being pawed by Gene Simmons, starred in many productions in Chattanooga, Tenn., including turns as Mama Rose in "Gypsy" and Golde in "Fiddler on the Roof." (Aside: Does that not just sound so, uh, special, "Fiddler" as played by Southern WASPs in the Deep South? I suppose it's no odder than Long Island Jewish groups who put on "Oklahoma!", eh?)

Anyhow, in this case Amy plays Steffi, the girlfriend of the L.A. writer whose long lost teen daughter shows up on his doorstep one day hoping to forge a relationship with him. I went with John Katsilometes to a full-dress rehearsal last Thursday and it's a very touching and funny show. The actress who plays the teen daughter, Rachel Lanyi, is a recent UNLV Theater School grad who is particularly gifted.

There are eight remaining performances, this week and next, at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. It's well worth your time.

4 comments:

Bay in TN said...

I desperately wish I could see this particular production. That I cannot is an enduring source of unhappiness. My melancholy is assuaged in no small amount by seeing your plug for the show, Steve. Thank you!

(P.S. -- You really should have seen Amy in "Gypsy." I cried silently throughout the whole show; she was so magnificent!)

Amy said...

What a lovely surprise! Thanks so much, Steve, for shilling our show. Don't let me forget to give you your commission.

I thought you'd get a kick out of my turn as Golde. We decided she and Tevye must have been from southern Anatevka.

Unknown said...

Thank you kindly sir! I am so glad you enjoyed it!

Dave Lifton said...

For the record, my mother was Aunt Eller in our Long Island synagogue's production of Oklahoma. And she was excellent.