STAGE BEAT : ‘Lenin in Love’ Too Schematic at This Point
A curiosity, “Lenin in Love” by Ben Pleasants suggests an outtake from the movie “Reds.”
The dank stage at Al’s Bar accommodates Lenin’s love affairs--dramatized as a steamy relationship with the American revolutionary groupie Louise Bryant (Andrea Lauren Herz) and, on a domestic note, his marriage to the loyal but unglamorous Krupskaya (Robin Harvey Trousdale).
For the record:
12:00 a.m. May 27, 1991 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Monday May 27, 1991 Home Edition Calendar Part F Page 14 Column 6 Entertainment Desk 2 inches; 36 words Type of Material: Correction
Wrong role, actress-- In a May 17 review of “Lenin in Love” at Al’s Bar, Lenin’s mistress was incorrectly identified as American Louise Bryant, played by Andrea Lauren Herz. The mistress should have been identified as Inessa Armand, played by Cherie Beasley.
They are moderately convincing portraits of romantic and political support systems in the life of the father of the Soviet Revolution. But it is Lee Arenberg’s bald-pated, look-alike Lenin figure that propels Marc Kreisel’s stark direction and creates the stirrings of a potentially strong stage character.
The play, however, is much too schematic and ill-developed to nurture momentum. Lenin suffers a stroke upon hearing that Stalin (unseen) called his wife a whore--end of play. Here’s a rough draft that bears expansion.
* “Lenin in Love,” Al’s Bar, 305 S. Hewitt St., downtown L.A., Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Indefinitely. $5; (213) 687-3558. Running time: 65 minutes.
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