There’s a brilliant new innovative space for theatre in Highland Park, and I just discovered it when I attended an equally innovative new play based on Homer’s The Odyssey. “I read that in high school.” I hear you saying in a bored voice. “What’s innovative about that?” Now, what if I tell you that this odyssey describes the journey, and, indeed, the unveiling, of a woman in her 40s? You may perk up a bit on that news. Because there have been many plays, and indeed, whole novels, written about mid-life crises, but seldom — perhaps never — from a female perspective.
It has taken a playwright steeped in classical literature, along with a director and a space, that will accommodate such a transformative journey to pull this off. Outside In Theatre’s artistic Director, Jessica Hanna, is just the person to work with playwright Jami Brandli to bring O: A Rhapsody in Divorce to life.
And now the really good news! You don’t have to know anything about the original outline to enjoy the story of O (Tania Verafield), who finds herself cast adrift when her long-time husband (played by Andrew Brian Carter – in only one of many roles), walks out. The ensuing journey of self-discovery is abetted by a versatile cast that includes Donna Simone Johnson, Rose Portillo (most effective as O’s elusive mother) and Alexandra Lee.
Brandli’s play reimagines significant incidents that echo the original Odyssey, but day and time renders them contemporary and therefore extremely relatable. Fantasy, originality, and agility play a large part in bringing the story to life. Most creatively, perhaps, the playing space, developed by Scene Shift’s Maureen Weiss, transforms from a sea-going vessel to innumerable other locations, with simple puzzle-perfect pieces that combine and diverge with alacrity, all augmented by area lighting (by Brandon Baruch), and sound design (by Amelia Anello). Costume designers Anna Closs-Farley and Danae Iris McQueen enable the episodic structure with simple jump suits that suit all occasions. But the piec-de-resistance of the production lies with choreographer Zoe Lesser and fight director Celena Lee Surniak whose stunt and dance routines make this a truly spectacular journey.
If there is any quibble about O’s Rhapsody for me, it is the length of the play. Clocking in at just under three hours, there are moments that dip and then surge that might be massaged a bit. Or an even better solution might be to play Part One one night, with Part Two on another. But whatever the case, Brandli’s creative approach has brought us a hopeful look at an Every-Woman’s mid-life journey.
O: A Rhapsody in Divorce continues Saturdays Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3 pm, through June 9th, 2026, at the NEW Outside In Theatre in the Highland Park area: 5317 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042. For Tickets and information, go to: https://outsideintheatre.org/o-a-rhapsody-in-divorce/
