Ahkei Togun, Monti Washington, Symphony Canady and Rosemary Thomas. Photo by Jenny Graham.
William Inge’s Pulitzer Prize winning play, Picnic, opened on Broadway on February 19, 1953. It was a hit that ran for 477 performances. The play has a place in my heart. In 1967, I was the lighting designer for the San Jose State Drama Department’s production of Picnic and saw many run throughs. On the opening night of John Farmanesh-Bocca’s updated production, I had the pleasure of seeing a vigorous cast pump new life into a venerated old show.
Derrick Parker, Yoland Snowball, Monti Washington, Symphony Canady and Ahkei Togun.
Photo by Jenny Graham
In the Odyssey Theatre production, Picnic takes place on Labor Day as two humble, side-by-side households go about getting ready for the evening’s festivities. At house right, Mrs. Potts (Rosemary Thomas) has put a drifter, Hal Carter (buff, handsome Monti D. Washington) to work doing some chores for his breakfast. On house left at the Owens house, smart, young high schooler Millie (Sydney Canady) sneaks a smoke and has a fight with an obnoxious newsboy, Bomber (Rogelio Douglas III). Millies eighteen-year-old sister, town beauty Madge (Caitlin O’Grady, and alternately, Mattie Harris Lowe) makes an entrance and inevitably, when Hal re-enters, sparks fly between them, which does not go unnoticed by Madge’s mother Flo (Yolanda Snowball) who immediately sees trouble looming.
Yolanda Snowball and Mattie Harris Lowe
Photo by Jenny Grah
Mattie Harris Lowe, Sydney A. Mason, and Erika L. Homes
Photo by Jenny Graham
The cast includes these excellent performers: Sydney A. Mason as Rosemary Sydney, a school teacher renting a rooin Flo’s house; Ahkei Togun as Alan Semour, Hal’s football playing college fraternity pal; Derrick Parker asRosemary’s reluctant, forty-something boyfriend, Howard Bevan; and Rosemary’s teacher friends, Irma Kronkite (Erika L. Holmes) and Christine Schoenwalder (Caitlin O’Grady and Mattie Harris Lowe). For my money, the very best scene in the show is the poignant, late night tête-à-tête between Rosemary and Howard (Ms. Mason and Mr. Parker). It is heart rending and humorous at the same time. Absolutely loved it. And I am sure that was one reason that the opening night performance had an audience that leapt to their feet with unbridled enthusiasm. Bravo!
Derrick Parker, Sydney A. Mason, and Symphony Canady
Photo by Jenny Graham
Farmanesh-Bocca co-designs sound with Jeff Gardner and (posthumously) Adam Phelan, and co-choreographs alongside Briana Price. The stage manager is Terrance Stewart. Picnic is produced by Beth Hogan for the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in association with Isabel and Harvey Kibel. Picnic is presented by the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Ron Sossi Artistic Director.
Performances: March 25 – May 28
• Wednesdays at 8 pm May 10*, May 17 ONLY
• Fridays at 8 pm April 28**, May 19**, May 26 ONLY
• Saturdays at 8 pm
• Sundays at 2 pm May 14, May 21, May 28
• Mondays at 8 pm May 8 ONLY
*Post-performance discussions on Monday, April 17 and Wednesday, May 10
**Wine Nights on Friday, April 28 and Friday, May 19 complimentary wine and snacks after the show.
WHERE:
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90025
TICKET PRICES:
• Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays: $25–$40
Paul Myrvold's Theatre Notes 