"Out of Character" at Berkeley Rep

 

Berkeley Rep production photo by Kevin Berne

Solo shows can be interesting, especially when they provide a kind of deep dive into the mind of the writer/performer. Former Berkeley Rep artistic director Tony Taccone has had a strong track record producing successful solo shows, many going on to Broadway. But the ones I've found most satisfying at the ones that really dig into the personal story of a writer/performer, such as those he did with Rita Moreno and Carrie Fischer. That pattern continues with his latest effort, with actor Ari'el Stachel.

The Play

I kind of hesitate to call something like this a "play", but there is a narrative structure to it, and Stachel invokes so many different characters that it feels much like a play at times. But really it's a personal narrative about his lifelong struggle with anxiety. It's a wide-ranging story, from a childhood bouncing among schools, never quite fitting into any of them, morphing his own character in various attempts, always thwarted by perceptions of him or his family (especially his Yemenite father).

The show begins with a recounting of the night Stachel won a Tony Award for his role in The Band's Visit. It appears he spent much of the evening hiding in the bathroom, mopping the profuse sweat from his face. As we learn throughout, sweat is a big feature of his life.

And so is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which was diagnosed when he was about five years old. He learned to give it a name so he could talk to it. That proves to be a mixed benefit, as the OCD proves to be a persistent foil in his life.

But it's a fascinating story, set largely here in the bay area where Stachel grew up, that sheds a lot of light on both his particular challenges and the way people with mental health challenges have to face the world and themselves.

Another theme running through Stachel's story is that of race. As a Jewish child of Israeli and Yemeni parents, Stachel always found it difficult to find a place where he really fit in, and he discusses numerous aspects of that, particularly surrounding the 9/11 attacks, which he noted were perpetrated by people who looked like him and his family. Even here in the supposedly enlightened bay area, he encountered a lot of issues around that, and more later in his career in New York. There is a lot to unpack here!

The Production

As with any solo show, it comes down to the performer, and Stachel is engaging and talented. His frank exposition of some very difficult incidents and relationships is disarming and captivating. You find yourself rooting for him, while occasionally watching an oncoming emotional train wreck with foreboding.

I also note that Stachel proved resilient in an unanticipated way, as a medical incident in the audience (quite near our seats, in fact) caused an unplanned 10-minute intermission only about 15 minutes into the 80-minute show. But Stachel took it in stride, improvised a recap when the show resumed, and then dropped right back into the script. Of course, he's a pro and should be able to handle such things. On the other hand, he's in the middle of telling us about his lifelong struggle with anxiety, so one could imagine this tripping him up. But it went smoothly.

Also refreshing is his ability to admit both great failures and ongoing shortfalls. He has obviously made great strides in dealing with his OCD and anxiety, but makes sure to express the ways that it continues to impact his life.

The Bottom Line

I thought the show was excellent. It's a real insight into a very talented but often troubled life, and the hometown connection makes it all the more relatable. It's not generally what I go to the theater for, but if I'm going to a solo show, it should be one with real insight and impact, and this has all that and more.

It's a terrific chance to see a very talented performer, up close and very personal, and the show is scheduled to run through July 30th at Berkeley Rep's Peet's Theater. Several of the shows have post-show discussions scheduled on various aspects of race, theater, and mental health, so check the website for those dates if you're interested.