Playwright Ben Abbott is back at SkyPilot Theatre Company with another innovative comedy: this time, it includes two people who are no longer with us. How could this be, you may well ask yourself. But therein lies the fun of the piece.
Suffice it to say that the characters in this play are firmly planted in a 100-year old mansion that has been leased out to Ray (Dylan Bowers) for his fledging publishing company and for his star author, Molly (Shelly Snellman), who is presently at work on her latest novel up in the rather haphazardly decorated attic. The two have a good working relationship: so good, that you might think that perhaps there is something else going on between them. Alas, Ray is all business, while Molly is just busy. But their chemistry is noted by the mysterious couple in the corner of the attic, who turn out to be Bob (Chris Durmick), Ray’s recently deceased father, with Eloise (“MJ” Scott), who turns out to be the original inhabitant of the place.
Unfortunately for both the living and the dead, Lori (Marie Pettit) the owner of the house, has her own ideas about it. She has decided that she wants to turn it into a stop on the “Haunted Hosting” circuit. All she has to do is prove that the house is, indeed, haunted. To balance out the factions, Lori brings in Ghost-hunter Guy (Jon Paul Burkhart), while Molly calls on her intrepid sister, Jess (Kelsey Dougherty), who has a plan to foil his efforts.
As you can already tell, all these opposing forces make for plenty of mayhem, with the outcomes anything but pre-ordained. I almost hesitate to present the characters as succinctly as I have, because the fun of this production is becoming a willing participant as the action unfolds. Our prolific director, Jonathan Fahn, utilizes his considerable skill to keep all the balls in the air, as the ensemble pulls them down, one after another.
There are so many unique and funny moments that you’ll be enthralled the entire time.
But make no mistake. SkyPilot’s assemblage of designers makes a seamless environment in which to perform, from the quirky attic set best credited to “Hey you,” (read your program!), to the all-important lighting design by Zachary Seaton, and the help of intimacy coach, Ariella Fiore. Once again, producer Morris Schorr has pulled it all together in this lovely LACAE theatre.
Skypilot’s production of Grave Mistakes continues on Friday and Saturday at 8, p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. through August 30th at the LACAE Theatre, Housed in the Lutheran Church at 11031 Camarillo St., North Hollywood, CA 91602. For tickets ($40), go to: www.onstage411.com/gravemistakes
