Love Is Complicated In A Place Called Rotterdam

(l-r) Ashley Romans and Miranda Wynne

By Darlene Donloe

A fantastic night of theater is when a play is firing on all cylinders.

That’s exactly what happened during the recent opening of the Skylight Theatre Company’s production of Rotterdam at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. 

Rotterdam remounted as part of the Center Theatre Group’s third annual Block Party: Celebrating Los Angeles Theatre is superbly directed by the venerable Michael A. Shepperd, who directed the show at the Skylight Theatre in 2017.

When we visit Rotterdam, it’s New Year’s Eve.

Alice (Miranda Wynne) is trying to summon the nerve to tell her parents she’s gay via an email she has written, rewritten and then rewritten again.  Her girlfriend, Fiona (Ashley Romans), doesn’t quite understand Alice’s apprehension, but she supports her anyway.

But then the plot thickens. Alice’s inability to tell her parents of her sexual preference pales in comparison to an announcement Fiona has to make. It’s a proclamation that may very well change the course of her current and possible future relationships. Fiona reveals that she has always identified as a man and now wants to live as one.

Fiona - “I think I’m meant to be a man.”

Wait! What did she say? Can you say, transgender? Yep!

Not sure what to do with that information, Alice appears to support Fiona, but in reality, she’s in the midst of uneasy calm.

Jon Brittain’s 2015 work is about as authentic and gut-wrenching as a play can get. The numerous interjections of humor help to lessen the blow about a serious, poignant and controversial subject matter that could leave many feeling more than a little uneasy.

To make this show even more intriguing is the revelation that Alice at one time dated Fiona’s brother, Josh (Ryan Brophy). Alice, Fiona, and Josh lived together when Alice and Josh were dating. Then, being true to who she is, Alice realized she was more attracted to Fiona than she was to Josh.  Fiona and Josh still remain friends.

Could Brittain’s play be any more complicated? Glad you asked. Yes, it could.

As Fiona, who wants to be called Adrian as a man, begins her transformation, Alice becomes even more confused. She knows she’s gay, but now she’s puzzled. If she’s attracted to Fiona/Adrian as a man, does that mean she’s not a lesbian? Fiona/Adrian binds her breast and begins to dress more masculine. It’s a lot to digest, which is why Alice turns to a woman in the office named Leilani (Audrey Cain) for comfort.

(l-r) Ashley Romans, Ryan Brophy, and Miranda Wynne 

It’s all a hot mess!

Rotterdam, which won the Olivier Award in London, is a story about life and living it authentically. It’s about valuing another human being for who they are. It’s about not judging someone’s choices. It’s about not conforming to who you think you’re supposed to be. It’s about not conforming to who you think society wants you to be. It’s about who you are at your core. It’s a brilliant presentation about love.

Englishman Brittain’s superb writing ensures that the audience becomes fully invested in the lives of these four characters.  Whether you want to or not. Whether you agree or disagree with a character’s choice – you care.

Shepperd’s tight, yet fluid direction moves the story forward and keeps this dynamic cast in motion. Scene transitions are literally a choreographed dance. Scene changes are made by cast members who effortlessly move the one piece of multifunctional, multifaceted furniture on set.  

(l-r) Miranda Wynne and Audrey Cain

Jeff McLaughlin’s set design is eye-popping. It’s a cityscape replete with buildings and cables of the Erasmus Bridge. The floor doubles as that and a frozen body of water.

Kudos to everyone involved in this gem!

Rotterdam, written by Jon Brittain and directed by Michael A. Shepperd, stars Ashley Romans, Miranda Wynne, Ryan Brophy, and Audrey Cain.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah) and E (excellent), Rotterdam gets an E (excellent).

Rotterdam, Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City; 8 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sun., no Monday performances, through April 7; $25-$69; 213 628 2772; www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.

Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes