A Slight Ache a wild ride
Listen to this articleA charming British couple reflects upon their youth and contemplates their futures as the story of A Slight Ache written by Nobel Prize winning playwright Harold Pinter unfolds upon the stage at the Group Rep venue The Lonny Chapman Theatre. A powerful tragedy builds sprinkled with generous comic relief.
A stranger appears near their home. He is there every day, just standing holding a box apparently offering matches for sale. Each and every day he is there yet he is never seen actually making a sale. Who is this man? Is he a real man or an apparition?
Eventually the couple gets the strange man to come into their home and then the tension and drama build to a crescendo. It is all somewhat esoteric but masterfully delivered by Michael Robb in character as Edward. Marcia Woodridge is Flora and J. Kent Inasy is the mysterious Matchseller. It would seem that one dominant theme is Edward’s severe fear of aging, so much so that even a slight ache sets off a wild ride of exaggerated concern.
The show runs a bit over an hour and while it is never totally clear where it will take you the ride is absolutely compelling.
You may enjoy it now at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Boulevard, Burbank, California. Reservations and ticketing may be made by calling 818-763-5990 or online at: theGroupRep.com.
The show is running Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. now through October 9th 2016. Tickets are a very reasonable $15 and there is even free parking.
Top photo by Doug Engalla
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.