Before I went to see Arrowhead, I didn’t know that I needed the climax of a comedy to be the incineration of a cat condo (no cats) –– but, oh my god, did I! You need to go see Arrowhead, playwright Catya McMullen’s world premiere comedy at IAMA Theatre Company. First, it’s hysterical (literally laugh out loud, tears in your eyes funny). How it gets to that comedy is what makes it special. This is a play with some really outrageous bits but it isn’t being played or directed for the laughs. The setup speaks to that. Gen is a lesbian and she’s pregnant... after surprisingly sleeping with a dude. This is an issue for Gen in so many ways. To deal with all this, she’s headed to a friend’s house in Lake Arrowhead for a friend's weekend where, like any good comedy, things just get more complicated. It’s hard to say more than that without spoiling the plot. The characters, who are all beautifully cast, are people you know in LA, or at least, people you’ve stood behind while waiting for a coffee. This isn’t a New York play. This is an LA play –– and that makes a difference not just because of the setting, but because it’s so deeply recognizable. The characters are all folks at that early crossroads of life and relationships where it’s time to figure out what you’re really doing. Those questions are more complicated than simply "is it time to settle down?" In fact, the straight woman with kids is the least important character in the play (refreshing for a change). This diverse cast of characters is asking "what does it mean to be a lesbian," "can a bisexual ever really be trusted?" and "what does it mean when who I love doesn’t match my strict set of rules for who I can love?" It’s the sincerity of the questioning that leads to the comedy. Ms. McMullen is writing an ensemble comedy with complex distinct characters. Jenna Worsham, who directs, finds a deep honesty that helps the comedy stay grounded, allowing the audience to find the humor both in the writing and in the physicality. For me, it’s always a good sign when you hear different audience members laughing at different moments –– not that one annoying guy who laughs to be heard ––  but pockets of recognition at the absurdity of our own lives. This is one of those plays where the comedy is so specific it resonates differently in the audience. It’s a confident playwright, director, and cast who gives an audience that freedom. Don’t miss this one. It’s an LA intimate theater gem. I find it hard to imagine a better production of this script. You won’t see acting this good in a theater this small anywhere else. Arrowhead plays at the IAMA Theatre Company in Atwater Village through March 4th. This is Anthony Byrnes Opening the Curtain on LA Theater for KCRW.

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