Photo by Ed Krueger
‘Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally’ is an extremely funny, sad and highly original coming of age story written by playwright Kevin Armento and directed by Peter Richards. The play features an unconventional narrator: the phone belonging to a troubled 15 year old boy, Red McCray.
The story chronicles Red’s unhappy move to a new town and school. He has one friend – his cell phone. The phone, as well as all the other characters he meets on his journey, are all played by Thomas Piper in a ‘tour de force’ performance
‘Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally’ is a memory aid that we learned in high school for the order of operations needed to solve an algebraic equation. If that sounds too abstract, don’t let it deter you from seeing this powerful production.
Throughout the play, we follow our narrator as he gets sucked into a breakneck journey from pockets to purses of various individuals. To quote a New York Times critic: ‘It offers a fresh and unique persective on human interaction and relationships.’ and I couldn’t agree more.
The soundscape designer and foley artist, Adam Smith joins Piper on stage to expand and enhance the unusal world of the play. The set designer, Pete Hickok, lighting designer Kelley Finn, projections designer Nick Santiago and costume designer Kate Bergh are all responsible for creating this elegantly constructed examination of contemporary isolation and the illusory nature of electronic connection.
‘Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally’ is a visiting production that runs at the Odyssey Theatre located at 2055 South Sepulveda Blvd, West Los Angeles 90025 from September 22nd through October 8th.
The play first premiered in New York City to rave reviews. This is a play unlike any I’ve ever seen and one that definitely makes you think…and think.
Performances are: Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.
To Purchase tickets: go to 323-960-4429 or go to www.plays411.com/PEMDAS Tickets are $20.00 and recommended for adults only.
