Bail Me Out at Hudson Theatre

Bail Me Out

Hudson Theatre
6539 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood

Joe, a blue collar tire mechanic, born and bred in New Jersey lives by the motto "It ain't my business". But when his best friend Ray is busted for 'exchanging' in a seedy part of town, Ray finally comes out to Joe, which sets off a chain of events that affect an entire circle of friends, and forces Joe to weigh the pragmatism of his relationships with his beloved friends and family. Ray's lover, Shawn, is a married, black preacher living on the 'down-low'. Ray is convinced Joe is the only man who can convince Shawn to leave his wife and live true to himself.

Thru - Nov 7, 2010

Thursdays: 8:00pm

Fridays: 8:00pm

Saturdays: 8:00pm

Sundays: 7:00pm

Price: $15-$25

Show Type: Comedy/Drama

Box Office: 323-856-4249

www.hudsontheatre.com

Nearby Restaurants

Bail Me Out Reviews

Average Rating based on 5 reviews

Highly Recommended
Recommended
Somewhat Recommended
Not Recommended

Los Angeles Times - Somewhat Recommended

"...Unfortunately, the ensuing complications serve plot twists at the expense of credibility, particularly in Ray's failure to warn Joe about the preacher's wife (Amy Motta) with ties to Joe's past - no friend would withhold that kind of information. Over-reliance on profanity comes across as wannabe David Mamet, a cheap way to gloss over a lack of anything insightful to say. Biribin handily evokes Joe's denim-clad, working class persona but doesn't risk compromising his likability: His Joe is so solid and reasonable, he doesn't undergo much internal conflict. The opposition comes mostly from even more stereotyped characters. It takes director Joshua Fardon's dynamically paced overlapping scenes and compelling performances by Hislop and Jones to keep us from echoing the sentiments of the title."

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- Philip Brandes

LA Weekly - Somewhat Recommended

"...Biribin deserves credit for tackling social issues and for striving for an in-depth portrait of a little guy in chaos. Unfortunately the play's ambitions outrun its execution. Its main problem is melodramatic overload, with just too many issues, too many events and too many contrivances packed into less than two hours. Directed by Joshua Fardon, the production is constrained by limited space and lighting. Carisa Engle as Joe's common-sense wife furnishes welcome respite from the Sturm und Drang elsewhere. And Jones overcomes the inconsistencies built into his character, persuasively depicting a bisexual bar-hopping minister, unctuously proselytizing one minute while fiercely brawling the next."

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- Deborah Klugman

Backstage - Recommended

"...Renato Biribin Jr.'s new dramedy features seven quirky characters whose lives crisscross in unexpected ways. The playwright intelligently explores the challenges of finding emotional fulfillment in a volatile society where the rules of conduct aren't always clear-cut. Differing views on sexual freedom, committed relationships, religious beliefs, and tolerance toward other cultures put Biribin's motley group of high-strung souls through myriad conflicts. The thematic intricacies of the episodic script don't always cohere, and a few plot developments feel contrived, but Biribin offers much food for thought, and some scenes are quite touching. The efforts of director Joshua Fardon and a talented ensemble help to ensure a rewarding ride."

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- Les Spindle

The Tolucan Times - Highly Recommended

"...An "adult" comedy that will have you laughing from the start, this is a rude, raunchy, riotously funny play! It looks at marriage, homosexuality, and the long-enduring friendships of a group of colorfully dysfunctional people in a small New Jersey town. Many skeletons fly "out of the closet!" Director Joshua Fardon succeeds in keeping the manic pace flying, while also honoring the tender moments."

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- Pat Taylor

Socal - Somewhat Recommended

"...While interesting, the performance has some room for growth. Some of the acting, especially in the second half, lost the commitment and intensity seen before intermission. As the world premiere, the play itself seems still in its infant stages as well. While it takes on courageous subjects with a commendable amount openness and honesty, it would benefit from some editing and subtlety as well. At times, the play's message felt heavy-handed, and Joe was allowed to unabashedly rant in the bar in a scene where it felt natural for other characters to push back and chime in. While Joe's observations were amusing, they could be all the more effective if we saw the scene were the beginning of the character's battle through the moral gray-areas that the play so desperately asked for. There is no doubt that this arc could have been pulled off by Biribin with grace and honesty."

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- Christina Torres

Bail Me Out at Hudson Theatre

Bail Me Out

Bail Me Out Reviews

Los Angeles Times - Somewhat Recommended

LA Weekly - Somewhat Recommended

Backstage - Recommended

The Tolucan Times - Highly Recommended

Socal - Somewhat Recommended

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