Arts & Entertainment
The Boys Next Door Opens at the Blue Door
Proof that being handicapped doesn't have to hinder you
Every now and then, you experience an extraordinary event that wrestles with your sensibilities. Such was the case at the Blue Door Theater in Culver City this weekend when we saw the riveting performance of THE BOYS NEXT DOOR, presented by CRE Outreach and written by Tom Griffin.
This dramedy focuses on a caring social worker that supervises four disabled men living together in an apartment. The challenges of daily life are depicted as they all navigate this terrain together.
I grew up on Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, and The Honeymooners, and in this production, it’s the humor of the “little things" that sometimes become momentous and are often very funny. My heartstrings were pulled upon several occasions as we were reminded that the handicapped, like the rest of us, want only to love and laugh and find some meaning and purpose in their daily lives. As such, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR explores friendship, love and loss in ways universal to all of us.
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The cast was an outstanding one, with Lee Pugsley as Arnold Wiggens, reminding me of Freddie Highmore on The Good Doctor, with his quirks and observations. All in all, the cast provided a firm reminder not to take your good fortune for granted. It could easily be taken away from you.
Directed by Jeremy Aldridge, award-winning director from Sacred Fools Theatre, and produced by Bryan C. Caldwell, Co-Founder and Executive Director of CRE Outreach with rights secured through Dramatists Play Service, THE BOYS NEXT DOOR gives CRE Outreach the opportunity to produce a published work and cast it from within three of its Theatre Arts as Therapy programs, including Veterans Empowerment Theatre members Mason Vokes as Jack, with Judy Welsh in ensemble roles; Theatre by the Blind members Kenny Lee as Lucien P. Smith, Lee Pugsley as Arnold Wiggens, CoCo Head as Barry Klemper, Sylvia Taylor as Sheila, with Leela Kazerouni in ensemble roles; and Rex & Friends musician August McAdoo as Norman Bulansky.
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Afterwards, we trekked nearby to Ugo, one of Culver City’s notable anchor restaurants. Blue Door theatergoers are granted a 10% discount off their meal by showing their ticket receipt.
I hadn’t been to this Italian staple in quite awhile, and of course it delivered as usual. Sit inside or outside, and gaze at the flock of people meandering down the boulevard. The food is memorable, fairly priced, and a convivial atmosphere ensues throughout the restaurant.
We started with their Caesar Salad with just enough dressing to make it interesting. The special Truffle Pizza, layered with mushrooms, and mozzarella was a total mortal sin, and thankfully, we were able to bag some of it to take home for the following evening,
If you like seafood, the Fettuccine Pescatore was large enough to share, dense with clams, shrimp, and calamari. Another doggy bag dream came true.
Pumpkin pie à la mode? Why not? I’m a sucker for gelato, and we were way over our caloric average anyway. It was demolished in a matter of minutes.
Bring your appetite because you won’t go home hungry.
The Boys Next Door plays through November 10th.
The Blue Door
9617 Venice Blvd.
