Theatre Review by Harrison Held
Another great play from director Gene Franklin Smith - Noel Coward's The Vortex first premiered on the London stage in 1924 and gets a mod 1960's reboot in this sizzling hot new production now playing at The Matrix Theatre on Melrose. Say Gene Franklin Smith: "Coward never wrote another play quite like The Vortex again. He created a juicy role for himself, including drug abuse, repressed homosexuality & Oedipal jealousy, knowing full well it would make him a star.
The Vortex doesn't sit on the same high Pantheon as Private Lives or Blithe Spirit, but it is far more contemporary than Coward's other works, and you could swear it was written today & not 90 years ago."
The award winning cast is terrific & stars Shannon Holt as famous self involved stage actress Florence, Craig Robert Young as her confused son Nicky, Victoria Hoffman as her best pal Helen, Daniel Jimenez as her not so secret younger lover Tom, Skye Lafontaine as Bunty (Nick's recent fiancée), John Mawson as Florence's downtrodden husband David & Cameron Mitchell Jr as her other very colorful pal Pawnie. The Vortex airs the dirty laundry of the rich, the elite & the privileged & is well worth watching - very funny, sometimes shocking & very poignant with riveting acting and great writing plus very cool sets/lighting design/costumes/hair & makeup.
-Review by Harrison Held
Playing Thursdays thru Sundays til December 14.
The Matrix Theatre
7657 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90046
General Admission $34.00
Reserve ONLINE at:
https://www.plays411.com/vortex
Photos by The McCarthy Photo Studio.
#1: Shannon Holt and Daniel Jimenez.
#2: Shannon Holt (l.), Daniel Jimenez, Skye LaFontaine.
#3: Shannon Holt and Craig Robert Young.
#4: Craig Robert Young and Skye LaFontaine.