What I liked
Everything
What I didn't like
Nothing
My overall impression
Thank God I had a minute! Located on theatre row in the small but cozy New Collective theatre, the Lake Arrowhead Repertory Theatre Company or simply LARTC was the recipient of several Hollywood Fringe Festival encore performance selections. If any of their other shows tug at ones emotions like this play; “Got a minute?” then LARTC has done something magical with their actors and the stories they wish tell.
Incredibly detailed and almost intrusively private, “Got a minute” takes 14 actor’s personal monologues and splits them up to create a show unlike anything you have probably seen. Labeled as a “spoken opera” each characters private monologue is broken up every few lines to introduce or tell a new story from a new actor. Each perspective is not only deeply intimate, but also compellingly relatable. The splintered nature of the dialogue allows not only for reflection on that individual’s story, but it also encourages the viewer to relate different bits and pieces of their own personal story to that of the character speaking. The end result is an amazing piece of art that forces the viewer to not only connect personally with the characters of the play but also reflect on their own journey through life and the minute details that might have been forgotten along the way.
Chuck and Megan Marra have done something much more than just produce a brilliant play. They have created a space for actors and their audience to reflect on the journey of life at a speed that is comfortable to each individual. The LARTC have done the nearly impossible with Got a Minute”; not only have they created a play that evokes a natural and organic emotion from the cast, but they have found away to give the audience a way to relate and attach their own empirical message and identity with every characters unique story.
10/10 would highly recommend.
- Anthony Foley
