Nancy Beverly’s very cinematic Godislav (A Playwrights 6 Production) is
getting its world premiere at the Miles Playhouse in Santa Monica. In noirish
fashion, Godislav explores the mystery behind Vladimir Godislav, an émigré
waiter who claims to have served as a Chechnyan physician, performing
almost superhuman medical feats during the country’s war with Russia. 

The future of filmmaker Casey’s documentary seems in jeopardy when Casey
mysteriously disappears, leaving his girlfriend Jana to rifle through his
belongings and read his diary in search of clues to his whereabouts. Jana seeks
aid from friends Bernadette and Doug, and meets waitress/masseuse Marlena,
who may have been giving Casey more than table service or a massage.

Multiple flashbacks reveal tensions in Jana and Casey’s relationship as well as
interviews with “Vlad.”  Among the cast (Tony Cronin, Sondra Mayer, Ken
MacFarlane, Morris Nash, Lily Sauvage, Peter James Smith, and Lori Allen
Thomas), Smith (one of our finest young character actors) makes the strongest
impression as Casey, the seemingly vanished filmmaker.

Though the Playhouse acoustics and some film (as opposed to stage) acting
make some lines hard to understand, director Susan Lee’s choice of using the
hall as the set rather than the stage itself is an effective one.  The larger space
and the better viewpoint it provides both work quite well.

A play with many scene changes and flashbacks can be deadly on the stage
if the set design requires many blackouts, movement of furniture and props,
etc. Fortunately, set designer Mia Torres’ use of the large “stage”, which she
has divided into three full sized areas, allows quick movement between the
different locations, and smooth transitions between present and past. 

Special kudos are in order for the very talented young Lauren Wemisichner,
whose very effective lighting design makes set changes smooth, and time
changes instantly clear. Theater companies would do well to check out her
imaginative and skillful work.

MILES MEMORIAL PLAYHOUSE, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.
m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; thru Aug. 26. (323) 860-6625.

--Steven Stanley