My overall impression
Acting 4 Camera presents a very interesting way to see a play – 52 scenes presented totally out of order based on a shuffled deck of cards in 52 PICK UP, now at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The concept is that 10 actors learn all 52 scenes, but the couple that performs in the show each night will never be the same two actors so all 10 shows will be unique for even though the scenes are memorized, they will be done in a different order at each performance with two different actors. The only improv happens in the transition between scenes to make them fit together logically.
The show’s host has the deck of cards which he shuffles at the start of the show as he explains the concept to the audience. Each card has a scene title on it, with 52 pre-written scenes spelling out a love story from beginning to end. The first card is turned over, and the story begins.
For instance, the night I saw it, the first card was the Ace of Diamonds with the scene title “First Impressions.” The scene was presented with the host deciding when to stop it by flipping to the next card in the deck and announcing it to the cast, and so on through all 52 cards. What comes next, no-one knows since the non-linear narrative of their relationship means it may start at the beginning, the middle or the end of their relationship, or jump all over the place in time. Will it be followed by their first date or their last argument? With a kiss or a slap? The cast is as surprised as the audience at what may come next.
I was very curious about the show since it has performed to sold out houses at festivals around the world and the concept seemed unique and challenging to the actors. But on the night I saw it, the two actors (a male and female whose names were said quickly once which I did not get, nor was there a program) were very mismatched and did not seem to be all that comfortable together in several of the scenes, many of which went on much too long. At points the hour long show felt as if it was going on twice as long. There are scenes that cover all the emotions and situations that come up in any relationship, but the slow pace killed a lot of the laughs during the funny scenes.
But there will be more shows with different actors with the scenes in different order, so there is bound to be performances that hit or miss. The concept is intriguing and if actors are well matched, the outcome should be fast-paced and flawless in character traits in every scene.