Backstage review of "Infinite Black Suitcase"

by Neal Weaver

April 20, 2007

EM Lewis' title may be a whimsical metaphor for death, but it's not as grim as it sounds: Some of her best scenes lean toward comedy. Her play cuts back and forth among three main stories, garnished with peripherally related scenes. In the first story, a wife (Marina Mouhibian) and her two brothers-in-law (Linc Hand and Ken Arquelio) struggle to come to terms with the hideous, and to them inexplicable, suicide of her husband. The second story concerns Dan (Eric Bunton), who is dying of AIDS, and the efforts of his lover, Stephen (Jerry Pappas), to bear up as the end approaches. It's weary Dan who must try to give comfort and reassurance. The third story centers on Katie Barnes (Darcy Halsey), dying of cancer but determined to persuade her current husband, Tony (Kim Estes), who is black, and her ex-husband, Joe (Ryan Churchill), who is the father of her three daughters, to accept joint custody of the three girls, despite sharp animosity between the two men.

In a touchingly funny scene, bereaved Joe and recent widow Mary (Tammy Kaitz) strive to make a connection despite grief and differing expectations. A confrontation in the confessional between a wry, canny Catholic priest (Bill J. Stevens) and an inebriated non-Catholic (Hal Perry) also provides rich dramatic fodder. In an unrelated scene, Jake (Rich Williams) must decide whether he wants to be interred next to his deceased first wife or with his current spouse, Anne (Anita Khanzadian).

All the scenes are interesting and ably written, but constant crosscutting among competing plot lines tends to dissipate them and prevents their being fully explored or focused. Danny Parker-Lopes directs with a sure hand, and the large cast (including Addi Gaash and Dawn Merkel) does fine work, with special praise for Stevens, Churchill, Perry, Bunton, and Kaitz. David Fofi provides the excellent production design.

Presented by the SpyAnts Theatre Company at the Lillian Theatre, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood. Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m. Apr. 6-May 6. (323) 860-8786. www.thespyants.com.

StageSceneLA review for "Infinite Black Suitcase"

From StageSceneLA

The Illustrious Spy Ants are presenting the world premiere production of
Infinite Black Suitcase, EM Lewis. Having seen their The Most Fabulous Story
Ever Told, and the recent Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, I knew them to
be a company of talented comic actors, but I was not prepared for the
depth of emotion they bring to Lewis' seriocomic "one day in the life" story of
a group of rural Oregonians facing death...and life after the death of a
loved one.

Director Danny Parker-Lopes has helmed a fine ensemble of young and not
so young actors, among whom there are a number of standouts. Longtime
Spy Ants Eric Bunton and Jerry Pappas have palpable rapport as a gay
couple, one dying, one facing the burden of his partner's illness and the fear
of life without him. Bunton and Pappas, laugh out loud hilarious in both
"Fabulous" and "Rudolph," prove themselves to be consummate dramatic
actors as well. Bring kleenex.

I also very much liked the intensity and depth of Ryan Churchill's Joe, whose
ex-wife and the mother of his three daughters, is dying (very good work by
Darcy Halsey as the hospitalized ex), the delightful comic relief of Dawn
Merkel's cemetery employee, and Bill J. Stevens warm and witty Father
Sebastian. Tammy Kaitz is reminiscent of a young Karen Black and Linc Hand
shows young leading man potential. Ken Arquelio, Kim Estes, Addi Gaash,
Anita Khanzadian, Marina Mouhibian, Hal Perry, and Rich Williams ably
complete the large and talented cast.

Infinite Black Suitcase may be about pain and sadness death and dying,
but it's also about the joy of living and loving, and is well worth spending a
very fast moving 90 minutes with. I, and at least one other audience
member I overheard, wouldn't have minded spending even more time with
these people.

APRIL 2007, LILIAN THEATRE, HOLLYWOOD.

--Steven Stanley

LA Splash review for "Infinite Black Suitcase"

LASPLASH.COM: Los Angeles Performances

Infinite Black Suitcase - Review

By Keisha7



It's been said that everyone deals with grief in their own way. TheSpyAnts' latest production at the Lillian Theatre delivers a healthy dose of that adage for a full uninterrupted 90 minutes. Stories of lost and languishing life unfold and overlaps onto themselves, entwining and pulling at the living in EM Lewis' Infinite Black Suitcase.



The play is an anthology of stories, all unique in their perspective of impending or sudden death. Young Kal Kalinski (Linc Hand) is the face of utter denial as he repeatedly tries to extract a reasonable explanation of a recent family death from Stan Kalinski (Ken Arquelio). Meanwhile Stan is trying to ward off Kal's barrage of questions long enough to fit a proper black dress onto his catatonic sister Janie (Marina Mouhibian). He has no time for sorrow; he has to get everyone to the funeral on time. He's the one that keeps going even when everyone else stalls.



Dan Hanlon's (Eric Bunton) withering figure makes his slow and agonizing trek to his hospital bed even as the audience continues to fill the theater, well before curtain. Having arrived at acceptance, Dan lies patiently in wait until death comes for him. Hooked up to an IV drip, he waits for death in the company of the witty, plant toting, affectionate and consoling Stephen (Jerry Pappas). Throughout the show, they play out a bittersweet goodbye that is taking too long for each of them.



Somewhere in the same hospital, Katie Barnes (Darcy Halsey) tries to bring her ex, Joe (Ryan Churchill) and new husband Tony (Kim Estes) to a truce regarding her children before she dies. There is the sense that the two men have always been at each other, and even Katie's approaching death is not enough to get the two to see beyond their petty bickering. Anything to avoid talking about the fact that she's dying.



Perhaps my favorite segment was between Father Sebastian (Bill J. Stevens) and the non-Catholic Frank (Hal Perry) who finds his way into a confessional that fateful afternoon. The priest's indulgence of the inebriated lost sheep is quite funny. When it is revealed that Frank feels guilt over the recent suicide of his father, the priest's kindness is heartwarming.

TheSpyAnts Company takes an introspective piece about death and dying and blends in a great balance of humanity and humor. The production, directed by Danny Parker-Lopes, shuffles the 17-member ensemble through space and storylines with ease. The screenplay keeps the points of view rotating, a key element that allows the play to avoid being overly sentimental or dark. It explores the rip effect death can cause in one's personal well of guilt, that often exists long before any loss is experienced. Moreover, it examines our innate need to fill that loss of life with something: sex, alcohol, a reason.

'Infinite Black Suitcase' runs now through May 06, 2007
Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm, Sundays @ 7pm at:

Lillian Theatre
1076 Lillian Way
Hollywood, CA 90038

For more information visit: http://www.plays411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp

Photos by Jeff Ellington

Official website: http://www.thespyants.com/