Beirut
February 2004
Beirut by Alan Bowne.
Produced by Véronique Ory
Starring Damien Midkiff*, Véronique Ory and Paul Darrigo
Reviews
Review by Systems Reviews
ACCESSIBLY LIVE - Beirut
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The Elephant Lab Theatre
6322 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood -(Entrance on Lillian way) MAP
February 6th- February 29th, 2004
Friday, Saturday @8pm Sunday @7pm
Beirut - Review by Systems Reviews
This Athena Theatre production of Alan Bowne's play, Beirut, powerfully depicts an apocalyptic era ruled by fear and paranoia. It details a time when those who contract an unnamed, sexually transmitted disease are forced into ghetto-like military-enforced confinement to live out their days. It is when the government advocates fear over love, and brutality over compassion. It is difficult to tell those who have hope from the hopeless. The play opens by introducing Torch (Damien Midkiff), a young man forced into a solitary existence by his testing "positive" for this aids-like disease. Sneaking through security to visit him is former girlfriend, Blue (Veronique Ory). As the action unfolds each character expresses a different form of hope -- Torch's version is to hope for health and protection from disease for Blue. Blue's hope is that her love and attraction and the connection it would bring would provide meaning to a maddened world. Yet, as Torch persists in defeating the possible connection with Blue, he deepens her own hopelessness in living. And as Blue persists, her wish to make love takes the one power away from Torch he feels he has left. But their physical attraction is undeniable and raises the possibility that connection and love are ultimately deeper than the forces that seek to destroy us. Midkiff plays torch with the intensity of a caged animal who hasn't yet completely surrendered to death or fear. Ory brings out the necessary sexual tension and energy to pull Torch towards connection. Together the actors create an energy that makes it easy for the audience to be captivated and wondering just what will happen next. The pace of the production never lags, even in quieter moments, largely due to the performances which hold us transfixed to the very end. And ultimately, this production satisfies on several levels. Not only is this an entertaining production -- it also raises more questions than it answers and -- as in all worthwhile theatre, it makes us think.
by Systems Reviews
(reviewer: Jude James)
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Week of February 9th, 2004 Vol. 9-No.6
BEIRUT, Alan Bowne's play about love, sex, and near death in a parallel society, performs at The Elephant Lab Theatre in Hollywood.
It is sometime in the near future. Somewhere in a shabby apartment in New York City's lower east side, Torch (Damien Midkiff) a young man that has been quarantined by the 'powers that be' because he has been tested positive for some deadly and contagious disease that could only be spread through open wounds or sexual contact. He is doomed to live alone with no physical contact with anyone. However, his girlfriend Blue (Veronique Ory), who does not have this disease, comes to see him in spite of the odds of not only catching this disease, but to have the authorities take her away from him. The question remains: will this two find the love/sex that they desire, or will Torch become left alone only to die as just one less person to possess this disease?
This play is a depressing one, yet it is part of those 'what if?' tales that could (and may) actually happen. The disease in question may be AIDS, but then again, it may not! Ty Donaldson is on helm to direct this one-act play, packing in a powerful production in the 70 or so minutes it takes.
Also appearing is Paul Darrigo as a security guard, watching over to separate the 'positives' from the 'negatives'.
Again, this is a play, but a real one at that. The title BEIRUT suggests a battle zone. It is one!!
BEIRUT is presented by the Athena Theatre Company and performs at the Elephant Lab Theatre, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd. (at Lillian Way), Hollywood, until February 29th. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday nights @ 8:00 PM, and Sunday evenings @ 7:00 PM. Reservations and information, call (818) 754-1423. Visit the web site at http://www.athenatheatre.com
Veronique Ory
website
Pterodactyls (Emma Duncan)
Slow Dance on the Killing Ground (Rosie)
Wait Until Dark (Susy)
A Lie of the Mind (Beth)
Proof (Catherine)
The Shape of Things (Evelyn)
How I Learned to Drive (Li'l Bit)
Waiting for Godot (Estragon)
Beirut (Blue)
Crimes of the Heart (Babe)
Two Encounters, "Birdbath" (Velma)