Laurel M. Wetzork's and Laura Steinroeder's World Premiere of Blueprint For Paradise is Challenging and Brilliant Theatre

The ruins of an abandoned WWII Nazi sympathizers' compound in Pacific Palisades currently known as The Murphy Ranch in Rustic Canyon were the inspiration for this must see new play. The Athena Cats is presenting this play produced by Racquel Lehrman, Theatre Planners and executive producer Debbie Bolsky which I feel should become part of the public school system's curriculum. This astounding and ultimately uplifting world premiere of Blueprint For Paradise is an important theatrical work written by filmmaker, playwright, writer and artist Laurel M. Wertzok and directed flawlessly by Laura Steinroeder running through September 4th, 2016 at the The Hudson Theatres' main stage located at 6539 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.

I attended the opening night performance of Blueprint for Paradise played by one of the most gracious and exemplary casts I've witnessed performing. I've traveled the world since early in life to theatre capitals throughout the world specifically, as do many Canadians for the purpose of attending live theatre. Blueprint For Paradise is a keeper.

The versatile and salient cast members are Alex Best, Ann Hu, Regi Davis, Meredith Thomas, Steve Marvel, David Jahn and Peter McGlynn.

The play takes place in the year 1941 in the living room of a house in Hancock Park during the weeks leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and is inspired by true events. If you're not familiar with the area the house is approximately a ten minute drive from Hollywood and Vine.

Although her play is rooted in history, Wetzork has fictionalized the characters condensing the timeline successfully creating a dramatically suspenseful effect from beginning to end. Blueprint For Paradise is one of those plays you'll want to see over and over. Once won't be enough.

"A recurring theme in my work is that appearances are deceiving. I wanted to examine the wife's (Meredith Thomas) journey--to discover how Williams' achievements and personality might have shaken her perceived notions of the way the world should work."

Wetzork's research into the period turned up some surprising facts. "It's believed that some of Hitler's ideas originated right here in L.A. with Pasadena's Human Betterment Foundation.

That's where the American eugenics movement took root, and the board of trustees included powerful and influential men like Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times and Nobel Prize-winning Caltech physicist Robert Millikan. In the play Clara is greatly influenced by them, as well as by the ultra-conservative Mothers of America who opposed US involvement in the war."

Meredith Thomas played her role as Clara with the type of vulnerability that personifies the makings of a true star.

Ann Hu playing the role of the Chinese maid being told what happens to "yellow" people is a show stopper. Her unforgettable, engaging and emotional performance didn't leave a dry eye in the theatre.

We all can relate to subjects such as forced sterilization, ethnic cleansing, discrimination against the mentally ill (referred to as feeble minded in the play), discrimination based on size, height, gender, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or even the right we all should have just to be ourselves.

Ann expressed some of her feelings about Blueprint For Paradise:

" I feel the show circles around a time in our country and our world that I fear is resurfacing today. The importance in the show lies in the fact that we must learn from our history; that undermining the human spirit for any reason, undermines humanity as a whole, and that we must be respected for our individual humanity before our ethnicity.

It was a great pleasure to portray a character "Fenny" who fought for her survival, social and material, in a country where the odds were greatly against her and who, herself, never stooped to the level of her suppressors."

Spread your wings and continue to soar high Ann Hu. You've got it right!

Alex Best in a jaw-dropping performance played the role of the butler frequently silent throughout much of the show until he caught the audience off guard in a dramatic and genuinely thrilling scene in the second act said,

"IF I had to boil down my thoughts on this production it comes down to this. It's been a real treat to work on a play that reacts like a dramatic piece while also expressing some soberingly relevant themes that we still experience in our society today."

Regi Davis plays the role of the African-America architect Paul Revere Williams in an endearingly sensitive manner as the architect who designed many L.A. landmark buildings including the Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, the Los Angeles County Courthouse and the Los Angeles International Airport's flying saucer-shaped Theme Building (as co-designer).

As Paul Revere William's reputation grew he received commissions to design houses for Hollywood stars such as Lon Chaney, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Barbara Stanwyck and Charles Cornell and designed many historical and public buildings.

Regi Davis plays his role in such a gentlemanly and tender way that it's relatively easy to understand how despite the shock and attempts to fire him for being a "Negro" retained without that significant piece of knowledge by Nazi sympathizers he keeps the contract.

The entire play is set in 1941 during the few weeks culminating in the attack on Pearl Harbor and is inspired by true events. According to local L.A. historian Randy Young, 50 acres of land in Rustic Canyon were developed by Winona and Norman Stephens (David Jahn), sympathizers of American fascist group the Silver Legion of America. Records show that the land was purchased in 1933 by Jessie M. Murphy, Winona's mother, and a one-page affidavit by Dr. John Vincent, a professor at UCLA and the director of the Huntington Hartford Foundation states that the Stephens intended the property to be a Utopian base for Nazi activities in the U.S. complete with its own water storage and fuel tanks, bomb shelter and a variety of outbuildings and bunkers. Later plans that were never carried out called for a four-story 22 bedroom mansion. Rumor has it that neighbors in the canyon spied men patrolling the hills on weekends wearing uniforms similar to those of the Silver Shirts. On Monday, December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, local police occupied the compound and detained members of the 50-strong caretaker force. The abandoned site currently in a state of disrepair and covered with graffiti is owned by the City of Los Angeles and has become a popular hiking destination. In February 2016, many of the structures were demolished due to safety violations.

Blueprint For Paradise was a semi-finalist in both the Eugene O' Neil playwriting competition and the HUMANITAS/Center Theatre Group playwriting competition in 2015.

"A mark of great theatre is an audience departing in heightened conversations likely to last with ongoing self reflection. Blueprint For Paradise is that kind of play," said the co-author of the New York Times business bestsellers, Gung Ho! and Raving Fans, Sheldon Bowles when I interviewed him.

Some left knowing they'd been delivered a wake up call of monumental proportions. Others similarly shaken, reacted with it can't -happen-here again certainty. I always have believed that history can repeat itself and believe those who don't are burying their heads in the sand. They no doubt, would see me and those who feel as I do as alarmists. With that having been said, let's take a look at Blueprint For Paradise which however it leaves you is brilliant on all fronts.

Performances:

Fridays at 8 p.m. August 5, 12, 19, 26 and September 2nd.

Saturdays at 8 p.m. August 6, 13, 20, 27 and September 3rd.

Sundays at 3 p.m. August 7, 14, 21, 28 and September 4th.

The Hudson Theatres

6539 Santa Monica Boulevard

Los Angeles, Ca. 90038

General Admission: $25.00

Discounts available via Goldstar and with discount codes.

For further information call (323) 960-4412 or go to www.BluePrintForParadise.com