The Emperor's Last Performance

For tickets and times please visit
www.robeytheatrecompany.org

Photo Credit: Victoria Bellocq

LA TIMES REVIEW -- HARIMAYA BRIDGE

Complex, unique 'Harimaya'For his powerful "The Harimaya Bridge," writer-director Aaron Woolfolk was inspired by such classic Japanese films as "Ikiru" and "Tokyo Story" to take his time in telling his tale. And, indeed, Woolfolk needs a full two hours for his hero to work through understandable bitterness to his first steps toward acceptance and reconciliation.Ben Guillory's Daniel Holder is a wealthy San Francisco widower determined to go to Japan to retrieve the paintings left behind by his son, who had been teaching English in a Japanese middle school when he was killed in a traffic accident. Daniel had worked so hard to make a better life for his son Mickey (Victor Grant) that he had little time for him. Having lost his own father to a hideous death as a prisoner of the Japanese in World War II, Daniel vehemently opposed Mickey going to Japan. Wracked with guilt and anger, plus his hatred toward the Japanese, Daniel arrives in Kochi Prefecture demanding that Noriko, a board of education official (Saki Takaoka), round up for him all of Mickey's paintings, even those his son had given to friends as gifts.Not surprisingly, Daniel's mission proves complicated and involves some surprises. Although exasperated and put upon by Daniel, Noriko is a compassionate woman moved by his plight and is willing to stick by him in his gradual, painful journey of self-discovery. "The Harimaya Bridge" has accomplished portrayals from Guillory, Takaoka and others and a remarkably authentic Japanese feel to it -- and an African American perspective. (Indeed, Woolfolk is believed to be the first African American to make a feature film in Japan.) It is a unique, complex, consciousness-raising accomplishment.

-- Kevin Thomas "The Harimaya Bridge." MPAA rating: Unrated. Running time: 2 hours. At the Music Hall, Beverly Hills.
(Source)

THE EMPEROR'S LAST PERFORMANCE PREVIEW TONIGHT! $15

****TONIGHT ONLY****
There will be a preview tonight of The Emperor's Last Performance for half price! $15! Get your tickets now -- limited seating is available! www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/714515

Friday's Performance is SOLD OUT, Tickets still available for Saturday and Sunday!

THE HARIMAYA BRIDGE

THE HARIMAYA BRIDGE

Starring Ben Guillory, Saki Takaoka,

Misa Shimizu, and Danny Glover
in an exclusive Los Angeles engagement at the Laemmle's Music Hall 3 Theatre
March 26 – April 1, 2010
Check here for showtimes and to purchase tickets:

www.theharimayabridge.com/theater/theater.html

The Emperor's Last Performance

The Emperor's Last Performance VIDEO PROMO from Robey Theatre Company on Vimeo.

Multimedia promotion by Roy Hurst

The Emperor's Last Performance

THE EMPEROR'S LAST PERFORMANCE
by Melvin Ishmael Johnson / Director Ben Guillory
http://www.theemperorslastperformance.blogspot.com/

Preview
Thurs. March 25th 8pm performance

Peformances
Opens Friday March 26th 8pm
Sat. March 27th 3pm matinee & 8pm performance
Sun. March 28th 3pm matinee & 7pm performane
Fri. April 2nd 8pm
Sat. April 3rd 3pm matinee & 8pm performance
Sun. April 4th 3pm matinee & 7pm performance