
“Lay me down, Justin Timberlake!” Like all 11-year-old-girls in 2000, Janice screams for affection and intimacy from her celebrity crush in the eclectic play, “Crumble,” written by Sheila Callaghan and directed by the Cal State Long Beach alum Jeremy Aluma.
Presented at the intimate Sacred Fools Theater in Los Angeles, this play incorporates not only a fantasy representation of pop star Justin Timberlake, but the way a broken family deals with the loss of a father while a preteen learns about herself becoming a woman.
The multi-level stage, created by set designer and CSULB alumna Staci Walters, is falling apart with cracks in the floors, torn wallpaper, broken windows and a front door that creeks loudly every time someone opens it. The crumbling apartment is meant to be a metaphor, which represents how Janice and her mother continue to crumble a year after the death of her father, according to Aluma.
Aside from the physical aspect of the deteriorating apartment, Brendan Hunt performs the personification of the apartment, who is sad and upset by the unkempt conditions of what he has become. He steals the show with his performance of proper and robust dialogue mixed with his sorrowful expressions, allowing the audience to feel sorry for him. However, he also creates laughter with sardonic comments toward the ladies of the house.
As Christmas approaches, it becomes apparent to the mother that her mother-daughter relationship, which once consisted of playful laughter, has now shifted to non-verbal communication because Janice is going through an awkward phase in life and would rather have spiteful conversations with her dolls than talk to her neuritic mother.
Opening the play, Janice (Kate Wronowski), is seen dancing frantically while listening to her portable CD player, and already has the audience laughing by her strange offbeat performance. With her squeaky voice, uncombed hair and mismatched outfit, it is easy for the audience to remember what it was like to be 11-years-old and unable to fit in anywhere, including your own home. Wronowski’s acting is a spot-on portrayal of a preteen who desperately needs guidance but is unwilling to accept any.
Meanwhile, her mother (Carrie Keranen) is suffering from panic attacks with the idea that Janice’s strange tendencies are a result of drug use. Throughout the play, she constantly tells herself to breathe in order to calm herself down. Keranen’s fearful facial expressions and fast-paced dialogue does justice in epitomizing the worry and anxiety any mother would feel after hearing her daughter, who never cares to shower, argue with her dolls.
Ironically, the only things keeping Janice and her mother sane are dream-like visits from their celebrity crushes, Justin Timberlake and Harrison Ford, both remarkably played by John Halbach.
During 2000, when the musical group *Nsync was at their prime in pop culture, every teenage girl in America had the ultimate wish to meet Justin Timberlake. Luckily, Janice gets a surprise visit from her crush, where he kisses her passionately and charms her with his suave, sexy voice.
In addition, Janice’s mother is also comforted with a visit from the strong and debonair Harrison Ford, dressed in his “Indiana Jones” attire, with an open shirt and mysterious hat. Halbach is able to transform from the young upbeat Timberlake into the wise sensual Ford, not only with a costume change but with his diverse acting skills and presence on stage.
“Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake)” will run from Nov. 11 until Dec. 18. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 and Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. The location of this production is at the Sacred Fools Theater at 660 N. Heliotrope Drive in Los Angeles. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $16 for students and seniors. For more information, visit sacredfools.org.
Disclaimer: The Daily 49er is not responsible for Postings made on www.daily49er.wpengine.com. Persons commenting are solely responsible for Postings made on this website. Persons commenting agree to the Terms of Use of the website. If Postings do not abide by the Rules of Conduct or Posting Regulations as listed in the Postings Policy, the Daily 49er has all rights to delete Postings as it deems necessary. The Daily 49er strongly advises individuals to not abuse their First Amendment rights, and to avoid language suggestive of hate speech. This site also encourages users to make Postings relevant to the article or other Postings.