Photo by Darrett Sanders
This play will have your guessing right up until the end. In fact, it had me guessing until the next day. Not only is “Welcome to the White Room,” written by Trish Harnetiaux, extremely funny, it will keep you thinking long after the curtain falls.
When the play opens, we discover Ms. White (Sierra Marcks) dressed completely in white, Mr. Paine (Chris Gardner), and a British woman named Jennings (Sarah Lily) arriving at The White Room, which was beautifully designed by Amanda Kenyans. The three characters are strangers to one another and they have no idea what they are supposed to do here.
As the play unfolds, we follow them on a journey, a very imaginative, funny, profound journey. They receive letters through a slot on the stage that only Ms. White can read. There is the arrival of The Last Deck of Cards in the World, which they wind up eating. There are also The Three Devices which must be figured out in order to advance to the next level.
Since the actors speak in monotone and move somewhat awkwardly, it’s obvious that they are not humans, but characters (hint: A.I.) playing a game that their creator invented.
Somewhere between throwing a party, suppressing sexual tensions and dancing a very hot, almost violent tango choreographed by Nancy Dobbs Owen, the characters summon their puppeteer, Patrick (Reuben Uy) into their senseless world, leading them all towards a big surprise.
“Welcome to the White Room,” directed by Megan A. McGuane, is filled with complex, nuanced storytelling which uses lights and sound to bring you deeper and deeper into the story. The actors are pitch perfect in their performances making this a “must see” theatrical event.
‘The play runs through Saturday, September 16th at Theatre of Note, 1517 Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm. Tickets are $25.00; students and seniors $20. To purchase, please call 323-856-8611 or visit www.theatreofnote.com.
