Review: ROCKET TO THE MOON Speaks to our Desire to Achieve a More Fulfilling Life, no Matter the Cost

Although Clifford Odets forgotten masterpiece "Rocket to the Moon" first premiered back in 1938, many of the themes of the Depression-era drama feel totally in step today with our own financial and career woes with its central character, Ben Stark, (Jesse Steccato) as a dentist stuck in an unhappy marriage and a stagnant dental practice who longs for both more money as well as more passion and joy in his life.

Things are set on a collision course with fate when he hires the beautiful, young Cleo Singer (lovely Kristin Couture) as his new receptionist. As his marriage fails and he succumbs to Cleo's flirting, will she be his proverbial rocket to the moon, thus allowing his dreams to come true? And will he be willing to change his life and take the necessary risks in order to make that happen?

Couture portrays Cleo as a bubble-headed blonde reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe in her early career. The girl knows how to get what she wants from men at a time when a kiss on the cheek was enough to guarantee success. Things should work out well for her, but her lack of working skills makes the uptight, neglected and put-upon dentist's wife Belle Stark (DAna Martin), wonder just what the young lady actually does around the office for her husband. Of course, her suspicions turn out to be correct. I guarantee when she just happens to "pop in" for a visit, her husband often can be found in rather compromising positions with Cleo!

Add in to the mix Belle's father, the stalwart and successful Mr. Prince (W. Scott Norton at the performance I attended), another lonely man who becomes infatuated with the enchanting Miss Cleo. Of all the men, he has the most money which of course appeals to her. But as she begins dating the older man, poor Dr. Stark's jealousy gets the best of him and he decides he must have Cleo for himself, to hell with the consequences.

Dr. Stark's partner, Dr. Phil Cooper, is portrayed by Jacques Freydont as an older dentist with no patients and a huge problem with gambling. His family needs him and he is failing them, certainly a problem facing many families in our hard, financial times. Adding into the office chatter around Dr. Stark's authentic, period-perfect water cooler (courtesy of set designer Cecilia Kim), is Dr. Walter "Frenchy" Jensen (Johnny Patrick Yoder) who appears to be the only dentist in the building with a booming practice. But he soon decides to pursue Cleo, leading to even more complications for the good Dr. Stark as Cleo thrives in all the men's attention.

"Rocket to the Moon" is not often performed, and I encourage you to see it through January 21 presented by The Harold Clurman Lab Theater at the Art of Acting Studio in Hollywood, directed by Don K. Williams with great understanding of the human condition when put to an emotional test with difficult choices to make. Williams also portrayed Willy Wax at the performance I attended, one of the many other men who pursue the lovely Miss Cleo. The fact that Willy produces musicals makes him all the more appealing to her since her dream is to dance on the stage and in movies. And it's a good thing for Cleo it matters little to Mr. Wax that she has little stage talent since his real interest in her has nothing to do with dancing.

In his position, as Artistic Director and President of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting for over 20 years, Tom Oppenheim originated the Harold Clurman Laboratory Theater Company in 2002 and shares his thoughts on the production: "Harold Clurman, the Lab Theater's namesake, directed the original production of "Rocket to the Moon." Almost eighty years later, the play's message is incredibly timely and speaks to the pulse of our times. In Don K. Williams's capable hands, the Lab Theater's production will make audiences feel that Odets is speaking directly to them about their lives, their work, their friends and family, their challenges, their questions and their dreams." I totally agree with him.

"Rocket to the Moon" runs from January 6 to January 21, 2017 for 12 performances at The Art of Acting Studio is located at 1017 North Orange Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Tickets are $20 in advance or 'pay what you can' at the door in an effort to make theater-going accessible to patrons of all income levels with several weeknight and weekend performances. For more information, please visit: www.artofactingstudio.com.

Photo credit: Johnny Patrick Yoder

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