Performing Art Therapy
Reclining Nude on La Cienega
Review by Ross Anthony

Jann KaramThis entertaining show is both delightful and poignant. While Jann occasionally reclines on the canvas-draped sofa, the only nudity here is Jann’s naked truth. I take that back, her truth is dressed in comedy.

The set is welcoming and completely ready for a full show. And, yet, it’s ready to become something else. It’s a set of white canvases waiting for paint, waiting for Jann to whirl across it spilling beige and blue and green.

Sometimes you’re watching an energetic, but deeply heart-wounded woman try to make sense of her life, try to rise above the abuse in her past. And sometimes you’re watching her inner child dance about the stage in love with creativity and art and self-expression and self-exploration and self-absorption. And from the spaces between grow the weeds of the painful truth, the full impact of which, is deflected by Jann’s alive and healthy sense of humor. So much so, that despite the weighty subject matter, Jann simply doesn’t allow the play to slip into depression.

In fact, her pace is wonderful, her movement and use of the stage feel warmly natural and alive, and the lighting, refreshingly effective. She has a gift for storytelling, storyweaving, audience connection and laughter. Her production is well written and well performed, even the hiccups accent it more than hinder. I have only positive things to say, save for one. And that’s the immediate build before the climax. I think the play on the whole could be improved by developing a bit more of the ‘how’ changes happen in her and in her mother.

Still this is a play well worth seeing. If you won’t see it for yourself, see it for your therapist. The mix of humor with real life, and real honesty make for an affecting production for the audiences, and undoubtedly performing arts therapy for the actor.

-- Books by Ross Anthony, Author/Illustrator --


  • Reclining Nude on La Cienega. Copyright © 2012.
  • Review based on the 9/9/2012 performance at Elephants Stages - Lillian Theatre. Ticket Info Starring the writer Jann Karam Directed by Sabrina LLoyd.


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Monday, 10-Sep-2012 15:05:35 PDT