The Last Remnants of Cops, Robbers & Hollywood Cowboys: Small Scale but Fascinating

By John Farrell

The Last Remnants of Cops, Robbers & Hollywood Cowboys doesn’t depend on fancy theatrics for its considerable charm.

Based on short stories by writer-director Tom Cavanaugh, the play has little action, with actors taking directly to the audience, sometimes sitting stage-side to tell their particular story.

But the stories, based on reality and collected by Cavanaugh by listening to people he meets and overhears in Los Angeles, are fascinating and moving.

Six actors: Laura Raynor, Chris Narrie, John Ross Clark, Rhonda Christou, Anita Leeman and Tad Yagi tell Cavanaugh’s stories, which depend on the detailed narrative voice he brings to the stage, with the actors cooperating with him. It is all told on a bare stage, without props or costumes. These are bare-bones stories that you hear with fascination and more than a little identification. There is the story of a life brought to an end to told by a friend who wanted just to help, another about life on the hard streets of Hollywood. The entire play lasts only 45 minutes or so, but it’s well worth the time.

Tickets are $12. Performances are June 19 at 7 p.m., June 20 at 9 p.m., June 21 at 7 p.m., June 26 at 7 p.m., June 27 at 9 p.m., June 28 at 7 p.m. and June 29 at 5 p.m.