Written by MARY E. MONTORO

http://www.entertainmenttoday.net/content/view/743/45/



Desperate Writers
Edgemar Center for the Arts

Two screenwriters in love write a romantic comedy which quickly gets rejected. Then, the girlfriend of the duo devises a plan to trap the three Hollywood bigwigs and convince them to make the movie.

Sounds like a good plan, in theory. Ashley and David (Kate Hollinshead and Chris Petschler) have a hot piece of property that quickly turned ice-cold. Ashley dreams of her big wedding to David while David dreams of selling their script to afford a wedding and the current bills that have escalated. The perky English blonde just got fired from her catering job and David doesn’t have make enough as a photographer. And like the rest of this country, they are about to lose their home.

Sweet and innocent looking Ashley, concocts a devious plan, unbeknown to David, to kidnap the three big-shot producers, the cantankerous Leo Goldberg (Peter Van Norden) and bickering divorced couple Jessica and Burke (Catherine Schreiber and Joshua Grenrock). Ashley is a sweet and endearing soul who’s out to help her man. So imagine David’s surprise when he comes home and finds three of Hollywood’s big dogs trapped in his soon-to-be foreclosed home with his woman waving a gun at them.

That’s pretty gangsta from a woman who channels Martha Stewart in making sure her “guests” are comfortable by feeding them and being as hospitable as possible. It doesn’t take David long follow suit and pretty soon he’s waving the gun evoking Clint Eastwood’s role from “Unforgiven” but instead getting the dimwitted Mongo from “Blazing Saddles.” And, then, something remarkable happens: the wanna-be Bonnie and Clyde of the movies grab the producers’ interest and get honest feedback, which is probably even scarier than the kidnapping.

So, everything is going to plan. The couple have the producers undivided attention, they seem to like the script, as if they had a choice, and then, like any good comedy, slam! Something else comes in and adds a new twist to the already outrageous plan. This faux pas comes in the form of Trevor (Vincent Giovanni). A gorgeous looking intrusion who holds everyone hostage and reveals a secret.

Van Norden is excellent and on point as producer Goldberg. Not afraid to be blunt with the bickering couple or hostage-taking couple, Leo tells it straight with no chaser. He generously provides advice on how to fix the couple’s story. Hollinshead is pure light and joy as Ashley. She’s a combination of the lethal, sexy and smart Oscar winners Angelina Jolie and the sweet girl-next-door Reese Witherspoon. She effortlessly gets the audience to fall in love with her and cheer her on to victory. Ashley should be canonized as the Patron Saint of Writers.

The entire cast work beautifully together in this hysterical comedy written by Grenrock and Schreiber. Clever. Witty. Damn right funny. Grenrock and Schreiber have a dynamic connection in delivering a great script with sharp-fire dialogue, likeable characters and a story, reminiscent of the children’s story the little engine, in this instance, the writers who could. Who else would know the perils of being writers than two writers who probably have more stories to share with the world?

A definite must see again and again.

Desperate Writers, runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. until Sunday, December 14th at the Edgemar Center for the Arts located at 2437 Main Street, Santa Monica, Tickets available by calling (800) 595-4849 or online at www.desperatewriters.com or www.tix.com. Tickets are $25.

Published: Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Chris Petschler and Kate Hollinshead (both standing) play David and Ashley, two screenwriters who hold several producers (Joshua Grenrock, Peter Van Norden and Catherine Schreiber) hostage in a desperate attempt to sell their script.

Desperate Writers” is a zany comedy about two screenwriters who are struggling financially and will do anything to sell their script to get them out of the hole and back on to their feet.

The laugh-out-loud play is running at Edgemont Center for the Arts in Santa Monica until Nov. 23 and is a fast-paced story that pokes fun at the film biz and its crazy nature. There are many different characters who feed off of each other’s comedic timing to create a lively cast for the audience’s enjoyment.

Ashley (Kate Hollinshead) and David (Chris Petschler) are about to get their home sold out from under them, and Ashley desperately wants to have a baby. David doesn’t want to make any rash decisions until he gets his “ducks in a row,” as he says throughout the play, which drives Ashley mad. All she wants is to have a successful career and a family, but it seems her life is not going in the direction that she wants.

Time after time, their script gets rejected by many top Hollywood producers. It seems no one wants to commit to the script and leads the two writers to do something they thought they would never do to sell their script.

Both “Desperate Writers” stars Hollinshead and Petschler have major theatre credits and have been veterans of the stage for years. Hollinshead, an actor from England, sticks to her roots and keeps her English accent for the show, giving her an innocent quality that makes the role lovable to audiences. Audiences will fall in love with her delightful and angelic nature. Petschler on the other hand plays an-over the-top comedic character who he characterizes believably and well.

Other supporting actors include Judy Nazemetz, who plays the wacky, loud and obnoxious agent and is one of the main comic reliefs in the show.

Catherine Schreiber, who co-wrote the play with Joshua Grenrock, also performs as one of the producers, Jessica, in the show. Schreiber is not only a theatre actress but has had many roles on hit television shows and movies.

The Edgemar Center for the Arts is a small theatre that provides an intimate experience for the audience. Although the set and stage were small, it was easy to imagine the show in a Broadway venue. The acting, writing and directing all come together to produce a wonderfully exhilarating play.

Four stars out of five.

Joshua Grenrock (l.), Peter Van Norden, Catherine Schreiber

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  It’s an old cliché that has never been funnier in a new Edgemar Center for the Arts comedic production. “Desperate Writers” is a zany roller coaster of fun, filled with outlandish slapstick comedy and outrageous situations.  Imagine being down on your luck after writing a blockbuster script that won’t sell, while continually seeing your friends back into success.  What would you do?  For most struggling to get in the business, the answer is to keep working hard until the ‘big break’. However, for writers Ashley and David the reasonable solution is simple, hold three Hollywood executives gunpoint until they green light their script!

“Desperate Writers” puts laughs on life’s struggles that most can relate to, especially in recent economic conditions. Kate Hollinshead plays the beautiful Ashley, a writer whose biggest character flaw is having a heart bigger than her brain.  Ashley and boyfriend, David, played by Chris Petschler, live together as struggling writers trying to break into the industry. The couple places all hope in a script they think is on the brink of selling for production.  Unfortunately, the only response Ashley and David receive from the script is rejection. The couple’s hope is continually misled by the well-written part of their over-the-top agent, Vanessa.  Captured hysterically by Judy Nazemetz, Vanessa is the self-absorbed agent who barely has time for anyone who doesn’t provide her a commission.  Ashley finally realizes if she can’t willingly get the script to the big-shot executives, she will bring them to the script, tied-up and at gunpoint.  The results are situation comedy at its best. 

“Desperate Writers” is filled with great one-liners and witty comedy.  Hollinshead and Petschler’s on-stage chemistry of a passionate and loving relationship is so wonderful, that the audience forgets to think of them as criminals while they hold others hostage.   Petschler’s timing and physical acting receive many of the laughs as he reacts to the numerous situations he is pulled through.  The two, young shining actors are surrounded by a great veteran cast for a nice mix.  The twists and turns that ensue throughout the comedy are delightfully entertaining while cashing in on numerous laughs. It is safe to say that Hollinshead and Petschler will not need to hold anyone at gunpoint to continue their acting careers.


Chris Petschler (l.), Joshua Grenrock, Catherine Schreiber

Under Cole’s skillful, inventive direction, Kate Hollinshead gives a heartfelt, multi-layered performance as a young woman who desperately wants to get married and have a baby, but at the same time wants to be supportive of David and keep him buoyed. Petschler also gives a wonderful performance as the tormented, conflicted David who wants to have “all his ducks lined up” so that they can get married and have Ashley’s much desired baby.

The production moves along at a brisk pace with outstanding performances from a professional, talented ensemble including Vincent Giovanni (multiple roles), Joshua Grenrock, Catherine Schreiber, Chris Stacy (multiple roles), Amanda Troop (multiple roles), and Peter Van Norden who nails the role of agent Leo Goldberg. Of special note is Judy Nazemetz as Vanessa, the young couple’s eternally optimistic agent. She delivers some hilariously funny moments as she calls them from a variety of places, such as the car wash and Disneyland, delivering yet more bad news about rejections and cancelled pitch meetings with a big smile and a robust, cheerful voice. ..." Santa Monica Mirror

"Delightful and Funny"
A great way to spend an evening laughing out loud at the absurdity of the movie business. Great acting, writing, and fun to watch.