A return visit to Theatre Of NOTE to catch the “Red Cast” in Ashley Rose Wellman’s Kill Shelter provides additional proof that (to quote from my original review) this is “not only one of the most remarkable new plays I’ve seen in a very long time, it’s the best Theatre of NOTE production I’ve reviewed since the company’s streak of winners in the mid-2010s.”

Not only is Wellman’s World Premiere dramedy a perceptive, compassionate look at an “open-admittance” shelter where “no kill” is simply not at option, it blends laughter and tears seamlessly into one powerful, compelling, deeply moving whole.

In addition, the double-casting of all four roles provides audiences with two equally fine yet distinctly different theatergoing experiences, making a return visit an absolute must if you love playgoing as much as I do.

Ashley Romans’ return to live theater (for the first time since her award-winning performance in Rotterdam set her on the road to TV stardom) once again reveals the actress’s chameleonlike gifts for making each new character her own, including but not limited to her gritty, deeply felt, emotion-packed, utterly riveting star turn as Kill Shelter’s Colleen.

Opposite her, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson does memorable work as Colleen’s outwardly self-assured but achingly vulnerable daughter.

Finally, in a pair of performances that are both distinctly different from and every bit as terrific as their Blue Cast counterpoints’, Brandon Warfield makes Brady an irresistibly nerdy charmer and Jack Clevinger isn’t afraid to make his squeaky-clean Nolan rather a bit of a prick.

Director Shaina Rosenthal deserves major snaps for giving both casts a chance to create their own individual characters, and the deeply affecting music playlist that she and sound designer Matt Richter have come up with turns time-consuming scene changes into an impactful plus.

Best of all, a two-week extension gives audiences an additional six performances to catch this Theatre Of NOTE winner.

See both Kill Shelter casts and you’ll see why I went back for more.

Note: The actors reviewed here comprise Kill Shelter’s Blue Cast and alternate performances with Red Cast members CJ Craig, Alex Hogy, Chloe Madriaga, and Nadia Marina. See website for each cast’s performance dates.

Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga, Hollywood.
www.theatreofnote.com

–Steven Stanley
September 29, 2023
Photos: Jeff Lorch

Tags: Ashley Rose Wellman, Los Angeles Theater Review, Theatre Of NOTE