Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
Whenever I am invited to the Rogue Machine to see a new play, I am truly excited – because I know I will be seeing a compelling story that is given a high quality production. This experience was no exception.
‘Rogue Machine’ is the only company to receive the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Polly Warfield Award for “Best Season” three times (2023, 2016, 2011). Additionally, they won the Ovation Award for “Best Season” (2017). Another thrilling expectancy is knowing that Rogue Machine mostly generates new plays, not yet seen in our theatre community within the City of Angels.
Nice Girl, explores the challenges and expectations of four different relationships with four exceptional actors whose characters are transparently presented with all their hopes, fears, dreams, and weaknesses. Daughter Jo (Anaïs Fairweather) is still living with her mother at the age of 37, her girlfriend Sherry (Bailey Humiston) is encouraging Jo to step outside of her comfort zone with promises of fun, fulfillment, new relationships, and new hope.
Melissa Ross (Playwright), places the plot within a small community in a suburb of Boston in the year of 1984. She masterfully endows her characters with the kind of authenticity that we all can relate to, feeling afraid to make changes in our lives, or to open our hearts. Skillfully, director (Ann Bronston) and her seasoned, super-talented actors, tell this story with such ease and with expressions that seems to paint a picture of their inner and outer lives. The ‘nice girl,’ does not waste a moment away from her feelings, nor does her mother Francine, the brilliant Susan Peahl. They both give us the performances of a lifetime. Together with the exceedingly talented Jeff Lorch (as Donny) the cast of four is placing their emotions, vulnerabilities, and attitudes into the palms of our hands. All of these characters are solid in their choices and have a supernatural rapport with each other. Since the Henry Murray space is extremely small and intensely intimate, the audience feels as if they are silent participants in Jo’s living room, on the street, or in a nightclub as the locations change.
The wonderful creatives are: Barbara Kallir (Scenic and Lighting Design), Christopher Moscatiello (Sound Design), Christine Cover Ferro (Costume Design), Rachel Frost (Props Coordinator), Lauren Lovett (Dialect Coach), Grant Gerrard (Technical Director), Victoria Hoffman (Casting), Rachel Manheimer (Production Stage Manager). Astounding creativity and artistic expression!
I cannot totally express enough how wonderful this play is and how much I recommend it. You will not be sorry if you go and see it. You will never forget the simplicity, the deepness, the challenges and those emotions that flow like a waterfall from all the actors. Brilliant work, indeed!
Nice Girl runs at Rogue Machine (the Matrix Theatre), located at 7657 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046, upstairs on the Henry Murray Stage. Performances are at 8pm on Fridays; 5pm Saturdays, Sundays through August 3, 2025. Tickets are $45 – $60; Seniors: $35; Students with ID: $25. Run time is approximately 2 hours including intermission. For more information call 855-585-5185.
You can reserve the tickets at https://www.
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