This past Monday night introduced the Los Angeles theatre community to a new work entitled, The Fourth Estate, written by Bitter Lemons founder, playwright, and director Colin Mitchell.
Reviewed by Tracey Paleo, Gia On The Move
Premiering as a reading The Fourth Estate starred Ed Asner along with all-star cast members Ed Begley Jr., Jenny O’Hara, Rob Nagle, Deborah Puette, Diarra Kilpatrick, David Starzyk, and Andy Hirsch. The piece was directed by Christian Levatino and appeared at Theatre Theatre on Pico courtesy of John Flynn and Rogue Machine. (Coincidentally, a top-of-list at Gia On The Move – we love them!).
The Fourth Estate takes us inside the present day of a disgraced journalist from the 1960s who gets a second chance to investigate the story that made him infamous. Mitchell’s play is a contemporary redemption story wrapped in the overcoat of a mystery thriller. And to say this piece was brilliant is an understatement.
Ed Asner simply “killed it!”
“Everyone turn off their cell phones now”
“What if I get a call?” (Ed)
[laughter in the house]
…and the play took off before the gate even opened…
Asner’s award-worthy timing is flawless at every turn. Embodying the very word curmudgeon Asner was spot on, humorous, and in full high drama comedic effect. There could be no comparison. Assisting his antics was actress Jenny O’Hara who matched him blow for blow in a tete-a-tete of lines, behaviors, emotions, and spot-on delivery. And every actor on the stage brought their A-game.
But the real excitement was the script. The Fourth Estate is without a doubt Mitchell’s best, most thought-out, most exciting piece to date. Almost two hours long and the audience stayed with it to the end.
Congrats! Looking forward to a full-on production of this piece and hope that the cast stays intact. It will certainly be a marvel to see it on its feet. Truthfully though, it was already there.
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One response to “‘The Fourth Estate’ – A Brief Look at a New Play”
[…] this year, I had the privilege of sitting in on a public reading of a new play written essentially for and with Asner as the lead, along with one of my favorite actresses, a cast of other celebs and Los Angeles theatre up & […]