First Nighters Live it Up on Ela's Terrace after Watching Dead Man's Cell Phone By Ann Conway
Jamie El-Erian, Jim Muzzy, director Bart DeLorenzo, Pam Muzzy
Olivia Johnson, Mary Ann Brown, actor Nike Doukas, Bette Aitken
Rinnnnnnnnnnnng! Rinnnnnnnnnnnnng! Rinnnnnnnnnnnnng!
That was the smug sound effect that punctuated the post-performance party as First Nighters celebrated the So-Cal premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, the fanciful new play about the power of communication —and mis-communication—by Pulitzer-Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl.
"Somebody annnnnnswer that phonnnnnne!" deadpanned one guest, as she popped a lobster cake in her mouth (a culinary tribute by Mark's Catering to the delectable dish—lobster bisque—lusted after by 'Dead Man' Gordon before he conked in a cafe).
"That's not my phone," quipped actor Lenny Von Dohlen, who made his SCR debut playing the role of Gordon in the production directed by Bart DeLorenzo and underwritten by longtime SCR supporters Pam and Jim Muzzy. "I've got mine with me but it's off."
In fact, Von Dohlen has begun to regard cell phones "differently," after participating in a play that deals with the power of electronic devices to distance people even as they bring them together. "I'm tempted to live better," he said as he mingled with the crowd on Ela's Terrace. "In this work, Ruhl tackles the idea of the brevity of life and the extreme divisiveness of feelings between people. She points out that there are too many barriers between us, not enough pure flow" of honest communication and emotion.
Enjoying congratulatory hugs from fellow theater-goers at the Sept. 26 bash, the Muzzys sipped libations as they buzzed about the comedy on the Julianne Argyros Stage that got rave reviews when it premiered in New York earlier this year. "When I read the script, I thought the writing was very clever and that it would be fun to underwrite," said Pam. Added Jim: "This is something we really enjoy, underwriting a play. We like giving back to the community and we hope everyone laughed as much as we did."
Had he brought his own cell phone along for the ride? "I have it right here, can't live without it!" Jim said. "I take it in my car, keep it at my desk and take it home. And when I die, it's going with me into the coffin. But I want to make sure it's turned off!"
