Save the Date: “House of Gold” explores the dark side of American childhood

Photo by Thom Bertelson

By Becky Koppenhaver

Can a parent love a child just for her or himself alone? Writer Gregory Moss and director Gates Mc Fadden explore this unsettling question in the West Coast premiere of  “House of Gold,” previewing tonight, Friday, Oct. 21, at the Atwater Village Theatre.

Inspired by the unsolved murder of six year-old, Jon- Benet Ramsey,  “House of Gold” is a “a dark, kaleidoscopic comedy about childhood in America,” according to the Ensemble Studio Theatre/Los Angeles, which is staging the production. Here is what to expect:

“House of Gold is a hilarious, yet scathing critique of our culture, revealing dark truths about our values, and, ultimately, about ourselves,” explains EST/LA artistic director Gates McFadden, who also directs. “Reading this play returned me to my own childhood. Like the character in the play, I was the ‘pleaser’ child-performer. As an adult, my role on Star Trek was my parents’ dream come true, but for me, it brought back a lot of childhood ambivalence.”

In House of Gold, Jacqueline Wright heads the ensemble as a young beauty pageant contestant who must constantly remain the perfect living doll for her obsessive “live-the-American-Dream” parents, and Alex Davis portrays teen misfit Jasper, neglected by his parents and living in the margins.

Previews and performances of “House of Gold,” will run this weekend through December 4.  Click here for a performance schedule and more information

Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave., Atwater Village
General Admission: $25
 Sundays @ 2 pm:
Pay-what-you-can
 Previews: $15
Free on-site parking

Please check the Save the Date  calendar for more events and things to do.