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“Audition! The Musical”

Sunday, Nov. 5

Santa Monica Playhouse

A review of “Audition! The Musical” at the Santa Monica Playhouse would be incomplete without mentioning the play’s setting. In fact, a night at the Santa Monica Playhouse is more of an event, rather than just a night at the theater.

In Los Angeles, a city whose obsession with the film industry trumps attention to small theaters, finding a thriving little theater is like discovering a hidden jewel.

Tucked behind a brick facade, a block away from the bustle and glamour of Third Street Promenade, is a cozy community theater where everyone seems to know each other.

Unlike large production theaters that are overly air-conditioned and completely sterile, walking into the courtyard at the Santa Monica Playhouse is like going to a friendly neighbor’s house. Included in the cost of the ticket is a buffet dinner; a warm buzz of conversation fills the air as theater patrons swap stories of their children over a hearty turkey and mashed potato dinner.

Adding to the refreshing non-L.A. feel of the theater is the actual theater itself. The entrance has wood accents and intimate lighting. Child volunteers greet you and usher you to your seat. Sitting in the small theater feels like watching a show in your living room – every seat has a great view, and if you sit in the back, the playhouse provides a pillow to keep you comfortable.

Once snug and settled in for the show, Evelyn Rudie, star of “Audition! The Musical,” welcomes the audience. The musical revolves around the chaos and comedy of Hollywood auditions.

At the age of 6, Rudie was nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Eloise on the television show “Playhouse 90”; however, she tells viewers that although none of the stories in the play happened to her personally, they are all true and happened to someone somewhere.

Rebecca Coombs and Serena Dolinsky join Rudie in the three-person cast, and each take on a variety of roles as Hollywood starlet wannabes. While waiting for their audition, each of the characters share advice and criticism as they compete for a role in an upcoming production. There is the awkward adolescent; the child victim of an overbearing stage mother; the hyper-confident French actress; the art school elitist and the Hollywood has-been hoping to make a comeback.

The play sheds some humorous light on the lunacy of acting auditions, but after a while, the jokes about dieting actresses and perverted producers are overplayed. However, from “Get It!,” the opening number, to the song “Not One More Day,” the actresses’ never-ending energy while singing, dancing and acting is impressive.

Rudie is a total professional; her stage presence is stunning, and her ability to capture the audience’s attention while speaking is unparalleled. Coombs and Dolinsky both have extraordinary voices and effortlessly switch from playing one character to another.

However, the constant wig changes and attempts at French and Irish accents can be dizzying, and unless you care about the Hollywood audition circuit, it can be difficult to stay fully engaged in the production.

Regardless, Rudie’s performance and the ambience of the Santa Monica Playhouse completely make up for anything that the musical’s story line lacks. The Playhouse is truly a gem in this city, and visiting it should be on the top-of everyone’s Los Angeles to-do list.