THAT PERFECT MOMENT: 73% Sweet

Above: (Left to right) Bruce Katzman, Guerin Barry, John Bingham and Tait Ruppert in 'That Perfect Moment.' Photo credit: Ed Krieger

SWEET
Rave reviews prompted producer Racquel Lehrman to bring back That Perfect Moment following its October-November run at the NoHo Arts Center. The return engagement (at Burbank’s Little Victory Theatre) is welcome news for L.A. theatergoers in search of laughter, nostalgia, and even a tear or two. Directed to perfection by Rick Sparks and featuring all-around terrific performances from its cast of five, That Perfect Moment makes for a nigh-on perfect evening of theater.
Steven Stanley – StageSceneLA

BITTER
Although I’m usually a sucker for plays in “real time,” dialogue dominated and character-driven, without entrances, exits and extraneous events to clutter the purity of the moment, this one just missed for me (and apparently for much of the rest of the audience, which seemed to grow restless as the play went along).
Joel Elkins – LA Theatre Review

BITTER
Yet merely the hilarious video footage of the young Weeds (courtesy of designer Adam Flemming exposes unexplored narrative areas, especially given Sky Keegan’s zingy original songs. “That Perfect Moment” has its moments, but they don’t add up to much.
David C. Nichols – LA Times

SWEET
This is a sweet, charming play. For any artists who have ever kept hoping for a ‘second coming’, this one’s for you!
Don Grigware – GrigwareTalksTheatre

BITTER
I’m sure a few performances will tighten the timing and leach out those static moments that could accommodate a Mack truck. But with a mishmash of themes, unexciting music and characters you have to struggle to care about, I don’t think I’d wait around for that perfect moment.
Melonie MacGruder – Glendale New Press

SWEET
Original songs by Sky Keegan, whose portfolio was purchased by Paul McCartney, were enhanced by the sound design of Joseph “Sloe” Slawinski. Playful costumes by Sharell Martin and hair design by Diane Martinous also helped to make That Perfect Moment both humorous and thought provoking. It tells us that our memories, when we first felt special and made a difference, will live forever but that we need to use them not to jump back but to move forward. This Perfect Moment is a perfect example of thoughtful entertainment.
Serita Stevens – LASplash

SWEET
Touching, funny, nostalgic and edgy at the same time, I really enjoyed this play!
Pat Taylor – Tolucan Times

SWEET
Rick Sparks (director) deftly managed his cast around the small stage without missing a beat. Combine that with the ability of the four members of the Weeds to involve the audience in paying attention to each of them as the men they are today not just their glory days of the 60s; and you had an absorbing night of theatre regardless of your age.
Audrey M. Jackson – Socal.com

SWEET
So color me old-fashioned. I like a well-written play that engages me, that gets me to really care about the characters and what happens to them, and prompts me to think about them afterwards. And if there’s good music involved, so much the better! Under these rubrics, therefore, one of the best plays I’ve seen in a long while is Charles Bartlett and Jack Cooper’s “That Perfect Moment,” now having its world premiere at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood. This show has everything—including music.
Cynthia Citron – Reviewplays.com

SWEET
There are gaps in the script’s logic and holes in the plot, but director Rick Sparks is expert at finessing the problems, and the performances are solid. Katzman gives Skip a brisk, no-nonsense skepticism that’s an admirable foil for Ruppert’s maddeningly unrealistic Mark. Barry lends Gabriel an urbanely rueful edge, Bigham scores comic points as Albert, and Kelly Lester provides a stylish counterpoint as Mark’s chocolate-loving, disillusioned wife.
Neal Weaver – Backstage

SWEET
Rick Spark directs a talented and well-cast group of actors. Adam Flemming’s set, suitably decorated for Christmas, is well done. And the original songs by Sky Keegan augment the production.
Carol Kaufman Segal – Stagehappenings