Bleeding Through

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Bleeding Through

About Productions at Shakespeare Festival/LA

Reviewed by Jennie Webb

November 11, 2009

Photo by Theresa Chavez

Writer-directors Theresa Chavez and Rose Portillo have made no bones about the challenges in adapting Norman Klein's novella "Bleeding Through" for the stage. I'm not familiar with the work, part of an interactive database documentary that apparently tells a uniquely Los Angeles story through decidedly untraditional narrative. But as a fan of Los Angeles history, challenges, and the untraditional in general, I offer hats off to the ladies. They have created a surround-sense theatrical adventure that's evocative in every way, even if it lacks the kind of clarity and immediacy that allows us to connect emotionally.

But an up-close-and-personal distance dripping with style is what this production is about, starting from the moment we enter the world of Los Angeles as it was in the 1920s to the '40s, at least in memory—or was it? David Fruechting is the Unreliable Narrator, guiding us into the skeleton of an Angelino Heights home owned by elderly Molly (a sassy, solid Lynn Milgrim), in an attempt to solve the mystery surrounding her missing husband. On a wonderfully detailed, sprawling set by Akeime Mitterlehner, the actors move in and out of the audience to paint pictures of Angeleno past and present that include Pershing Square, social occasions with the Chandlers and Dohenys, and underworld negotiations concerning the imminent threat to the soul of our city: the destruction of neighborhoods for freeway construction. At intermission, audience members are encouraged to poke around the fabulous collection of new and old ephemera in the home's attic and library.

"Bleeding Through" is lyrical and always lovely; cinematic layers float though the film-noir evening, which is beautifully scored with moody original music by Vinny Golia, who accompanies the action on clarinet with guitarist Scott Collins. The actors have an ease with the material, particularly Milgrim and Elizabeth Rainey as the younger Molly. Brian Joseph, Pete Pano, Ed Ramolete, and James Terry play various men in Molly's long and interesting life. And all look fantastic, thanks to gorgeous period costumes by Pamela Shaw. Sure, throughout the drama our attentions wander and our investigation gets bogged down by poetic clues and unanswered questions. But when it comes right down to it, does it really matter where the bodies are buried?

Presented by About Productions at Shakespeare Festival/LA, 1238 W. First St., L.A. Oct. 31–Nov. 22. Thu.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. (800) 595-4849. www.aboutpd.org.