“The Last Word…” by Oren Safdie is often hysterical but lays a barrage of emotions on audiences as well.
By Ryan O’Quinn/ Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu Stage Co.’s summer season is up and running with another world premiere from local playwright Oren Safdie, “The Last Word …”
The current production stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Daniel J. Travanti, best known as Captain Frank Furillo of TV’s “Hill Street Blues.” The two-man play also stars Peter Smith, who co-starred opposite Ed Asner in a staged-reading version of the play at Malibu Stage Co. earlier this year. Smith recently relocated to Los Angeles following a run off-Broadway playing opposite Molly Ringwald in the acclaimed “Modern Orthodox.”
Although Travanti plays the character of an 80-something New York transplant from Vienna who is 20 years older than the actor’s real age of 65, he manages to pull off a convincing codger.
Henry Grunwald (Travanti) is a struggling playwright trying to succeed in show business all the while teaching his young assistant the ins and outs of life from subjects that range from marketing a play to keeping a girlfriend. Travanti’s approach to old age is often hysterical as he attempts such feats as using a computer and finding the zipper on his trousers.
Smith offers a brilliant turn as the strong-willed undergraduate Len Artz, who volleys between walking out on the off-putting Grunwald and actually sticking around and heeding his advice.
Safdie’s rapid-fire banter coupled with stellar performances from Smith and Travanti turns a play about a job interview into a touching, often hilarious journey of two very different generations coming together and teaching each other.
The audience experiences a barrage of emotions throughout, and Safdie’s characters offer mini-lessons and points of view on many topics. During the course of conversation, the play touches on playwrights such as Terrence McNally, Tennessee Williams, Stanislavsky, Strindberg, Shakespeare, Arthur Miller and David Mamet.
One of the highlights of the play is when Grunwald comically dictates a play to Artz who is typing it on the antiquated computer. Grunwald glides across the stage engrossed in his own words and eventually slumps on the couch asleep.
The play is hard to define as a definitive comedy or drama. Perhaps it is best described by Smith’s character in the play, Len Artz, who says, “If you were to see one of my plays, you wouldn’t be able to define it at all.” In whatever genre you choose to categorize it, it is worth seeing before it leaves Malibu. “The Last Word …” is a Los Angeles Times Critic choice.
Safdie’s play is semi-autobiographical and comes from his days working as an assistant to an aging playwright in New York City. His last full-length play, “Private Jokes, Public Places,” premiered at Malibu Stage Co. and moved on to Broadway where it received rave reviews.
“The Last Word…” runs Thursdays through Sundays through July 31. Malibu Stage Co.’s summer season continues with George Bernard Shaw’s “Candida” opening on Aug. 12 and on Sept. 30, television and stage director Donald Reiker will stage “Reckless” by Craig Lucas. Malibu Stage Co. is located at 29243 Pacific Coast Highway and tickets can be reserved by calling 310.589.1998.