Theater Review (LA): Grand Delusion by David Rock at The Lost Studio

Grand Delusion, a new play by David Rock, just opened at The Lost Studio in Hollywood. Inspired by the famous film The Guns of August and the even better-known movie by Jean Renoir, Grand Illusion, the play takes place in the year 1914 in the days leading up to the outbreak of World War One. It imagines a clandestine meeting of world leaders, bickering, fighting, plotting, playing ego games, and generally acting like madmen. The result is, of course, the epic war that left millions dead and paved the way for the Second World War.

The play is a dark, biting view of world politics that shows what can happen when the maniacs are in charge. Sound familiar? Playwright Rock mixes vaudeville, slapstick, and grotesque comedy to make his points. The result is an uneven theatrical event looking for a style.

Director Larry Biederman has gathered a group of fairly well known actors. Timothy Omundson plays the slimy Count Rumpledorf, who is constantly being bested by the other characters. In the first scene he contracts herpes from Eric Stonestreet, who plays the slightly effeminate General Foufou from France. Foufou is a bully, utterly silly, and the least successful character; Lee doesn’t find consistency in the character, so we always see him working at it.

More successful are the portrayals by Kurt Fuller of the egocentric Kaiser Wilhelm and by Xander Berkeley of Czar Nicholas II. Fuller is an expert comedian who makes the most of the Kaiser. Berkeley is, I think, the most successful in bringing his character to life - his Czar is insane, but somehow makes sense. However, all the actors are required to act as broadly as possible, and they often seem to lose their way. Perhaps this unsteadiness will get better as the performances continue.

Amanda Detmer scores big as the Duchess of Shrewsbury. She was sexy and very amusing. Last but not least is the handsome Brad Raider, who has to play the straight man to all the zaniness, playing Padnov the tramp from Russia. He holds his own nicely, and has a few dramatic moments that put the coming tragedy into perspective. Finally, a special mention for the guy who moved all the furniture (Tim Banning) who also has a great makeup job as the dead Archduke Ferdinand. He throws himself into his tasks with full vigor.

Through Dec. 15 at The Lost Studio, 130 South La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. For tickets ($5 preview, $20 general) call 323-960-4441 or visit Plays411.

Article Author: Robert Machray

ROBERT MACHRAY has appeared in over 150 plays and has worked at 14 Tony Award-winning theatres. He has been nominated for and won numerous awards. Robert has a B.A. from Yale and an M.F.A. from USC. He has taught at USC, UCLA, UCSB, and Pasadena City College. …

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