Two 50-year anniversaries collide in the latest offering from the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. In late December of 1969, La Mama ETC gave the premiere of The Unseen Hand, a one-act play by Sam Shepard. That was also when Ron Sossi founded the Odyssey. As part of the theatre company’s Circa 69 series, The Unseen Hand opens this week and is paired with another Shepard work, Killer’s Head. Previews begin on the 22nd with the official opening night on January 25th.
The Unseen Hand tells the story of an extraterrestrial, “Willie the Space Freak” (Matt Curtin) who wants to free his people from slavery. To assist in this effort three cowboys (Carl Weintraub, Chris Payne Gilbert and Jordan Morgan) are resurrected. Given that this is Shepherd, there’s more: a bullied young cheerleader who is ridiculed for not being more of a tough guy (Andrew Morrison.)
Killer’s Head is a monologue that had its premiere in 1975 with a then little-known actor named Richard Gere. The monologue is delivered by a man on death row awaiting his execution.
At the Odyssey, a number of actors will rotate in and out of the role: Steve Howey (Jan. 25-26), Chris Payne Gilbert (Jan. 31-Feb. 2), Dermot Mulroney (Feb 7-9, Feb. 14-16), Magnus Jackson Diehl (Feb. 20-23), Jeff Kober (Feb. 28-March 1), Darrell Larson (Feb. 5, March 4), Jonathan Medina (March 6-8).
Larson, one of the actors performing Killer’s Head, is also the director of these two pieces. He’s made a name for himself directing Shepard’s plays and has, to date, directed seven of the playwright’s works.
For those unfamiliar with Shepard, he is best known for such plays as Fool for Love, True West and Buried Child. He was also an actor seen in such films as The Right Stuff, Steel Magnolias and The Notebook.
When reviewing a 1993 production of The Unseen Hand Variety, found an interesting way to define what sets this play apart from other works by Shepard: “In a local interview some years back, Edward Albee was asked about the extensive output of fellow playwright Sam Shepard. Albee replied with something like, ‘He writes good plays — about every third one.’ ”Unseen Hand” is one of those third ones.”
The Unseen Hand is scheduled to run through March 8th.
For tickets go here.
Photo: Andrew Morrison, Carl Weintraub and Jordan Morgan in The Unseen Hand (Photo by Enci Box/Courtesy of Odyssey Theatre Ensemble)