The best production I've seen yet at ICT (Long Beach's premier Equity
house) is the recent Broadway revival of the 30s screwball comedy
Twentieth Century, written by MacArthur and Ben Hecht and adapted for
modern sensibilities by Ken Ludwig.  Stars Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche of
the recent Broadway revival can't possibly have been any better than Jeff
Griggs (over the top perfection as maniacal theatrical director Oscar
Jaffee) and Libby West quite nearly his match as the deliciously self-adoring
star Lily Garland. Two brilliant performances with a supporting cast every
bit their equal, most notably Eileen T'Kaye, who gave so many superb
performances at the old Colony Theatre, wise-cracking perfection as
sidekick Ida. Under Jules Aaron's crackerjack direction, the play moves as
fast as a speeding train.  You won't stop laughing for a second! The
costumes (Shon LeBlanc), set (Tom Buderwitz), lighting (J. Kent Inasy), and
sound (Max Kinberg) are top of the mark. This is one well worth a trip to the
Long Beach (by train if possible).
SEPTEMBER 17, 2006, INTERNATIONAL CITY THEATRE, LONG BEACH

--Steven Stanley