Group Rep’s “A Dull Pain Turned Sharp” is all about family
Listen to this articleA Dull Pain Turned Sharp is a family show written by Brent Beerman and directed by Kay Cole, and is currently premiering at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood, California. It is centered on a family, but absolutely not Ozzie and Harriet Nelson or even the Kardashians.
The senior woman of the family starts the show off by explaining the long tradition of a beautiful Grandfather clock and how it has tied the generations. But then we learn of the severe difficulty in giving birth to her only child. Eventually she succeeds but it seems that her child become far more interested in her career than in bringing the next generation into the world.
One day mom receives a visit from a somewhat aggressive woman who, as it turns out, is the mother of a boy that was once a good friend of the daughter. Sadly we learn that the boy recently died but he can live on because before he died he had some of his sperm frozen. Okay this is where I will stop because this is where the show gets more than just interesting. But some thoughts to ponder might include:
- How likely is it that a gay man would become a natural father?
- What are the odds a driven young professional woman would become involved with a gay man?
- How likely is it that the driven professional woman will have someone to pass the clock to?
Honestly I found the opening set up to the show a bit long in the tooth but as it progressed it grew into something utterly unique and unexpected on many levels. It forces thought, which is one of the very best things any show can do. You leave the theatre with an entirely altered vision of the world, but not in a bad way, but rather in a challenging and to some extent even a fun way.
A Dull Pain Turned Sharp is very much worth watching and you may do that now through June 4 2017 at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California.
Ticketing and reservations are available here or by calling 818-763-5990. I would recommend leaving the younger ones at home for this show, but you will be severely entertained.
Photos by Doug Engalla
Top photo: Amy Earhart & Todd Andrew Ball
Ron Irwin was born in Chicago, Illinois a long time ago. He served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, became a trial lawyer, TV and radio host, CEO of a public company and once held an Emmy. He never won an Emmy he just held one. Ron has written and published twelve books. His most important book to date is “Live, Die, Live Again” in which Ron tells of his early life and his unexpected and very temporary death in 2012. That experience dramatically refocused his life and within the pages of that book Ron reveals how he achieved a much healthier life, ridding himself of Diabetes, Cancer and Heart Failure. Now Ron enjoys writing about many things including health topics, travel [he has circled the globe several times], adventure, culinary experiences and the world of performing art. Ron’s motto is “Live better, live longer and live stronger because it feels great and annoys others.” Contact the author.