HFF18: WHITE PEOPLE DRINKING
REVIEW: WHITE PEOPLE DRINKING
BY RYAN M. LUÉVANO
Joining the ranks of the over 100 ensemble theater pieces in this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival the new play White People Drinking by Daniel Sugimoto is one you should add to your must-see list. The premise of the play is simple: a billionaire and his wife have a dinner party and they’ve invited two millennial couples who have no idea what they’re doing there, or what to expect. . .and it’s not what you’d expect either. With such a simple premise White People Drinking packs a big punch—it’s a 90-minute roller coaster ride whose destination is to be determined until the very end.
The Three Clubs in Hollywood makes a perfect setting for a play for which all the actors are drinking continuously throughout—if you have an alcoholic beverage while watching, it’s like you’re sitting at the table taking part in the conversation.
Leading the cast are Frank Krueger (Bishop) and his wife played by Stephanie Schultz (Jennifer) whose chemistry onstage is a hilarious representation of a couple who’s been married far too long. Krueger’s almost farcical drunken arrogance is matched only by Schultz’s sharp retorts which are always followed by trails of laughter.
Writer and co-director Daniel Sugimoto makes an appearance as Michael for an over the top performance that oozes of arrogance and white-privilege to the maximum degree. Julia Lisa (April) is the air-head blonde who proves to be more brains and heart than air—she’s a nuanced character who engages and surprises at every turn. Sam T. West (Matt) and Lauren Ashley Hill (Cheslea) are dreamer and realist who within their own brand of comedy offer an important lesson about the true value of art.
Sugimoto has crafted a modern-day dark comedy that is paced to perfection. The writing here is amalgamation of playwriting and screenwriting that settles into a nice balance of the two mediums putting all audiences in familiar territory. Additionally, the characters are written with realistic conviction—as these people talk on stage you can hear your friends, relatives, neighbors or even yourself speak. As part of the play’s main objective this ruckus dinner party hits upon a surplus of current political, social, religious, societal and controversial issues. Although none of these topics are necessarily fully addressed, but much like in the play, they are mentioned to spark a conversation and even allow you to confront your own beliefs. It may not be considered polite to discuss all these issues at your next dinner party, but in White People Drinking politeness goes out the window almost immediately.
Come to the Three Clubs, order a cocktail and take your seat at the table with White People Drinking it’s a guaranteed 90-minutes of laughter, reflection and intrigue.
LOCATION: Three Clubs, 1123 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90038
*Must be 21 + with valid ID
PERFORMANCES:
Thursday, May 31 @ 7:00 pm
Monday, June 11 @ 7:30 pm
Wednesday, June 13 @ 5:30pm
Friday, June 22nd @ 4:30pm
TICKETS: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5232?tab=tickets
