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Michael Matthews completes a noteworthy sophomore season as artistic
director of the Celebration Theatre with the world premiere production of Still
Photos, a 1940s soap opera with a modern twist. Reminiscent of the films of
Douglas Sirk, Still Photos could easily have starred Jane Wyman and Lana
Turner (had it been filmed back then) as star crossed lesbian lovers. In
Celebration’s production, it’s the equally photogenic and charismatic Rachel
Hardisty and Jenni Fontana in the roles of a naďve young Brooklyn gal and a
beautiful Manhattan recluse who fall in love while their menfolk are off
fighting the enemy. Aubra (Fontana) seems more than a bit predatory in her
seduction of Charlie (Hardisty) but in truth it takes very little seduction for
Charlie to don Aubra’s fiancés manduds for a bit of “pretending.”
Both Hardisty and Fontana couldn’t be better in their roles, a feisty and
endearing Hardisty capturing Charlie’s exuberance and her fears, and a
sophisticated but frightened Fontana bringing out Aubra’s vulnerability and
need. Both are real finds for the Celebration and for L.A.’s theater scene.
Kevin Meoak as Aubra’s wealthy fiancé perfectly captures the voice of an
upperclass New Yorker of the 40s and the heightened style of the era’s
actors. Likewise Dan Roach as Charlie’s off-to-war honey has Joe’s street-
tough Brooklyn manner down pat. Completing the cast (and bringing it up
to the present) are the excellent Peggy Lord Chilton as Grandma, Charlie’s
present day self, and a fine Angela M. Grillo as Emily, her granddaughter. As
Grandma recounts her love story to a sympathetic Emily, she also gets a
chance to tell her past self what she has learned, that no, Charlie is not sick,
and that yes, she needs to fight for the love of her life. And this is what makes
Still Photos so different from the play it would have been had it been written
and staged in the 40s, and why it works so well in 2007.
Director Sharon Rosen is to be commended for getting two different styles of
acting from her cast (1940s and 2000s), with the Celebration’s crackerjack
design team (Marjorie Lockwood on costumes, Cricket S. Myers on sound, Tim
Swiss on set design, and Carol Doehring on lighting) as always at the top of
their craft. As the play moves effortlessly from past to present and back
again, we become aware, through the words of talented playwright Vanda
(that’s her full name) and the cast’s touching performances, of how much
has changed since Charlie and Aubra fell into forbidden love. Thank
goodness! CELEBRATION THEATRE, 7051-B Santa Monica Blvd., W. Hlywd.;
Thurs.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m.; through Aug. 19. (323) 957-1884
--Steven Stanley
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