Sunny Afternoon

Another excellent production from Gangbusters! Loved everything about it- from the compelling story, to the incredible acting ensemble. The stage/lighting/costume design is worth mentioning, too. Go!... full review

There's a new voice in the American Playwriting world. His name is Christian Levatino. You've seen him acting and directing on the LA stage circuit for over ten years. Now he's taken the bit, and written an original that will make you wish he'd been writing all along. His play, Sunny Afternoon, is workshopping during this years LA Fringe festival. If you have any artistic pretensions, get off your ass and go see something that is like holding a live wire for 90 minutes of direct current. The play is bold, meticulous in detail, flooded with character, and challenging in every respect. If you think you know something about the assassination of Kennedy, about America, and about Coke a Cola, Sunny Afternoon will make you think again; if you thin... full review

This play was boring. Perhaps JFK buffs would find it interesting, but outside of the historical realism with a touch of conspiracy theory thrown in, it offered no real emotional punch. After the first scene set up the parameters of the story, the plot basically stayed in one place until the very end, without any real rising action and no driving motivation. The only bring spot was Darrett Sander's inspired turn as the lead interrogator, but many of the other performances were amateurish at best.... full review

Great cast. Really great actors up there. Wonderfully written--poignant, gritty, crisp. And, for that tiny little space, really wonderfully staged. I left with a mind full of thoughts about the assassination of JFK and what--or who--is really behind any plot to bring down America, not only 50 years ago, but today as well. I would like to see this show expanded upon and given a proper run. ... full review

I loved it! It was so fascinating to watch! I was with the story all the time-. I wanted to know what would happen next! Especially the close to the end, my mouth was open, and my body was leaning forward. well written, well directed, well performed! Reccomend to see it! ... full review

Great show, really awesome! I was a bit apprehensive going in figuring another rehash of the events on the day of the JFK assassination could be pretty one dimensional. I was wrong, the cast was excellent, alive and colorful, and the "twist" at the end... No spoilers... fits extremely well with what we now know about that day. (At the end of the day though... The Hamburglar could have shot the president... The dialogue and the performances were so strong I would have gone with wherever they told me.) Must see!... full review

An extraordinary re-imagining of the last days of Lee Harvey Oswald. You feel like you're there rather than seated in a theater because of the great dialogue and because Darrett Sanders becomes Captain William Fritz so convincingly there's not an instant when you can detect even a hint of acting. Brett Fleisher is an uncannily real Oswald. See it!... full review

I really, really enjoyed SUNNY AFTERNOON. There are some great scenes with sharp, natural dialogue. The lighting and sound design are pretty close to brilliant, and the way they use the space is phenomenal. It's rare in Fringe to see a show that so completely embraces their space and it's really nice to see. The performances in this show are a real treat. With such a large cast, there wasn't a single weak link. Everyone was on point. The stand outs here are Darrett Sanders (brilliant!), Dieterich Gray, and Brett Fleischer as a fantastic Lee Harvey Oswald. So why, with all of this genuine praise, did I click "Liked It" instead of "Loved It"? I had some issues with the script. It went to many different places, and while non of it was bad... full review

Go see this show. The best show we've seen, and we've seen eight so far over three days (we are not involved in the fringe, we are audience members who simply love theater). Engaging, great pacing, fantastic performances -- loved this. We look forward to it being put up somewhere else with some more work (which was mentioned in the pre-show talk), as a full-length piece. KEEP THESE ACTORS! Wow.... full review

Sunny Afternoon has many problems, the least being the uninspired idea of using the basic plot of Manchurian Candidate as a possible answer to the conspiracy theories. The interviews of Oswald go nowhere, as he keeps insisting on not speaking until he’s provided with an attorney; no attorney arrives (until the end) and he keeps talking anyway. At convenient times Oswald is whisked out the room and back in again when needed. Some of the acting is fine, but much is overwrought. The young man playing Oswald is robotic (perhaps it’s a choice) as his cadence never wavers. However, it has inspired me to re-view much of what I’ve already read over the years regarding the assassination. All in all, a problematic production.... full review