Now you See It: OMA at North Coast Repertory Theater.

 by Patricia Frischer

Now You See It , on view February 24–March 20, 2016 (a farce by the French master George Feydeau) and has a juried show on the theme of the play i.e jealousy bordering on paranoia, a philandering husband, hypnotism, a spurned lover and a scandalous discovery. The reception for this Oceanside Museum of Art’s exhibition is on March 3, 2016, 6:00–7:30pm.at the North Coast Repertory Theater.

 I really applaud that the Oceanside Museum of Art and North Coast Repertory are collaborating to put on displays in the reception area next to the theater. The space is not a proper gallery but there is room for about a dozen works. OMA makes a call for artist to submit works on the theme of the theater plays.  This is hard for artists to do without really seeing the play, but the works are not intended to be illustrations for the play. I found what I was most attracted to in these display was the work that was as theatrical as possible. 

Now You See It was described at "a dizzying escapade fueled by jealousy bordering on paranoia, a philandering husband, hypnotism, a spurned lover and a scandalous discovery. Furiously fast and clever, this visual and verbal treat is guaranteed to tickle your funny bone."  The following works seem to me to make the most reference to some of those attributes. Once I saw the play, I had a completely different feeling about it. It seemed more English than French, had a large element of Victorian theater melodrama and of course the play was written by  the Frenchman Georges Feydeau,(1862 - 1921) but  translation by British playwright Kenneth McLeish (1940 - 1997). It was very well acted by one and all and a farce but with a slight underlying reflection on the way women where seen and treated at that time.  

One thing I noticed in the program was how the individual actors were sponsored by individual donors or donor couples. This would be a very good role model for artist exhibitions as well. Patrons should be introduced to the idea of sponsoring a showing by a favorite artist, giving an additional funding source, especially to non-profit galleries.  

Gregory Brown

Robert Pendleton

Ted Whirledge

No label on this but the signature looks like Kirby