Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Setup & Punch at The Blank
Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Setup & Punch at The Blank Theatre in Hollywood. Written by Emmy Award winning writer Mark Saltzman and directed by The Blank's Artistic Director, Daniel Henning, this play with original songs by Berton Averre (of The Knack) and Rob Meurer reveals the awkwardess and unspoken angst that lies beneath the surface of relationships.
The story follows Brian (Andrew Leeds) and Vanya (Hedy Burress) a composer/lyricist team before, and after, they find success with their writing. Love and uncertainty complicate their partnership when their agent suggests they collaborate with a rock star sex god (played by P.J. Griffith) who causes each of them to examine their true feelings. The result is an intricate unraveling of emotion that touches the heart.
Henning brings out the best in his actors, guiding them to explore what lies beneath the surface of the words and music each uses to avoid the truth. Burress handles Vanya's nuances so naturally it's as if the part was written for her. Together with Leeds, at times cautious, angry, yet always vulnerable, we see how relationships can go awry unexpectedly, and just how fragile the threads of reconciliation really are. From the time P.J. Griffith, as the delicious party-loving rocker Jan bursts onto the stage, it's clear that each of these three people will never be the same.
Setup & Punch runs through June 21. Get your tickets now at http://www.theblank.com/.
