A Song At Twilight

Witty play with engaging performances. It was a slower play so if you’re in the mood for something uptempo this may not be your cup of tea. The small cast worked very well for this intimate story. Although the play was good I felt it dragged at times.
Pro:
it tells a story
lovely playhouse
Cons:
it’s a slower production

Such a great show!

Such a beautiful show. Great thing to do if you’re in the Pasadena area!

Thanks Katie B for the tickets.
First: Parking: I parked for free on the street.
Pasadena Playhouse: Cute, little place. Very intimate place.
This was my very first time at the Pasadena Playhouse. I like places that gives unobstructed views regardless of your seating location.
Ticket counter: Staff was friendly. No problems picking up tickets from will call.
I saw Brief Encounter by Noël Coward; And, i guess it is not fair to compare the two.
But, mentally, I did just that.
It was entertaining but I did have a hard time with the German accent.
There were several twists and turns. The good old days when people stayed married for decades.
Overall, glad to enjoy my first experience at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Thanks again Katie B, Pasadena Playhouse, and Unilocal

Thanks Katie B. for the tickets to watch this wonderful show! My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed the charming yet dramatic performance. Though I did think that the story could have been summarized in a shorter time period, I enjoyed the theatrics of the performers. It’s also super cool that I got to see LIVE the same guy that played the villainous senator in X-​Men 1. Though he looks completely different with the beard.
This was my first time at the Pasadena Playhouse. It was an awesome venue with high ceilings, a well lit stage and great visibility even from the balcony seating area. Parking around that area at night shouldn’t be that difficult to find. I found street parking about a block away which is free after 6pm. Overall, a fantastic show at an elegant venue.

What a beautiful performance! It didn’t have a great dance number or a large cast. But it didn’t disappoint. We were seated up at the balcony and to my surprise the view was great. The play itself was very entertaining.
The theatre has refreshments for sale in front of the box office, but I didnt purchase any. The crowd was mostly those in their latter fifties and on. Parking wasn’t too bad. We parked on the street by target to avoid paying valet. I would probably come back for another show, possibly during the summer.

It’s was enjoyable to watch and the small cast was great with Sharon Lawrence playing her part fabulously.
It was a good play on human nature and it’s the characters that drove the story. Would recommend.
Thanks Katie B!

Thanks Katie B. for hooking us up with tickets to the Pasadena Playhouse. It was the first time to the Pasadena Playhouse for the lady and she had a wonderful time. The play was very enjoyable with a major revealing at the end of act one. The second act does it’s best to keep the audience guessing at the motive but in the end, the motive itself was somewhat of a let down.
All the actors (4) did a phenomenal job. Especially Sharon Lawrence, whose name sound so familiar but I couldn’t quite put a face to the name until she set foot on stage.
Definitely a play worth catching and the Pasadena Playhouse is such a wonderful venue with great views, no matter where you sit.
Thanks again, Katie

Thanks to Katie B. for allowing me the opportunity to see this play! :)
The play is a bit on the slower side, and would have to take a more mature audience to understand (not good for kids basically) but i loved the general premise of the show. The stage design of the Pasadena Playhouse itself was gorgeous, little open area outside the theater to order your drinks and even a little fountain to be aesthetically pleasing.
I thought the actors in the show were really talented, the b/​f said that the old man forgot some of his lines a few times, but I had hardly noticed. Towards the end it did get a little redundant after you find out the reason why the ex-​lover Carlotta was doing there, but I liked how it all played out in the end.

(Attended 03÷20÷14 TH @ 8:00pm): OK, so there were no songs but a poignant story nonetheless!
I would sing a few bars and hum some melodic chords for the divine Ms. Katie B, the awesome Unilocal Community Manager in all the land, for these complimentary preview tickets to A Song At Twilight at the Pasadena Playhouse. I invited a good friend so we caught up with each other throughout the evening. I’m a peripheral fan of Noël Coward’s work but I wasn’t familiar with this piece.
Food — My lovely plus-​1 and I grubbed next door at Red, White & Bluezz so we didn’t have to rush. Otherwise, there was a little bar in the courtyard and Zona Rossa Caffe for a light snack. Thursday nights usually had food trucks but maybe it was too early in the season.
Seats — Sat in the Orchestra — 1^st Floor Row N Seats 27 – 28 stage right. Sight lines were total unobstructed (actually, there are no obstructed views here). There was plenty of leg room so not necessary to stand as people passed in and out. These seats RAWKED!
The Show — Set in the 1960’s, Hugo Latymer, an esteemed aging writer, was visited by former lover Carlotta Gray with news that concerned his past. His wife, Hilde Latymer, obviously curious about this meeting bowed-​out and gave them the time to discuss in private. The meeting surrounded «love letters» between Hugo and and old male friend Perry Sheldon. Disbelief, shame, realization, and finally acceptance were the various emotions Hugo would experience. Here were some notables (sorry, no pictures allowed out of respect for proprietary work):
1. The set design was of a luxury suite — specifically the living room area — decorated with windows, a fireplace and mantle, a couch, that overlooked a lake in Switzerland stayed the same throughout.
2. The powerful topic was still relevant today but certainly more accepted.
3. All actors did a great job (there were only four), with an exceptional performance by Carlotta Gray (Sharon Lawrence), whom I simply melted over not only by her acting prowess but my God did she look stunning! Hugo Latymer (Bruce Davidson) was mostly credible but I found a few areas where his emotions didn’t feel real. Hilde Latymer (Roxanne Hart) was more of a supporting role but she did a wonderful job. Felix the waiter (Zach Bandler) offered a bit of comic relief to a somewhat heavy topic.
4. Costume design was exact to the period and I’m sure was a pleasure for all «Mad Men» fans.
Service — No explicit Unilocal presence at this event. So, I walked up to the will-​call window and provided my name to the young gentleman on the other end, and voila, tickets in-​hand! Once inside, an older female usher pointed us in the direction our seats were, and then a kind older gentleman usher handed us each a program
and guided us to our seats. Easy-​peasy.
Parking ($ 7.00) — It was rather easy this Thursday night as I pulled into my favorite lot — the Carousel Oriental Rugs business catercorner to the theatre (last time I parked here a few months ago it was $ 5.00 credit). However, I believed they had a shared lot around the back. Otherwise, there were plenty of options all around and within walking distance. Depending where you parked (i.e. distance, etc.), prices ranged from free to $ 9.00.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience — You’re first visual was the gigantic wooden vertical marquee sign that fronted the Spanish-​style courtyard where patrons ate, drank, and mingled as they waited to be let into the theatre. You walked into a slim lobby and then parted to either the left or the right for seating. Once inside, you took in the pure sense of old Hollywood and Vaudeville art houses with its ornate architecture, design, and opulence. Think the Alex and Pantages Theatres, or any of those along the Broadway corridor in DTLA but on a much smaller scale. The old, rickety, and dull cushioned seats just added to the aura of the experience. And of course, there was a balcony area. The sound system and sight lines were good, respectively, since the theatre was mid-​size. TVs were in the lobby that showed the stage.
Attire — It’s the performing arts in a theatre so I showed respect and dressed business casual (it also helped that I came directly from work). Sorry, no t-​shirt, boardshorts, and flip-​flops this time around.
Overall, I loved being introduced to Noël Coward’s A Song At Twilight at the Pasadena Playhouse and was floored by the cast of heavyweights from stage and screen. I found great value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (total experience was around $ 7.00, which included 2 free tickets; no tip required). Even at full ticket prices ($ 62.00 comparable price), the nearly two hours (one intermission) of drama that dealt with such a relevant topic was a bargain. And, my credit card of choice was accepted by the theatre… AMEX!

«Mr. Coward is his own invention and contribution to this century. Anyone who cannot see that should keep well away from the theatre.» — John Osborne
«There are probably greater painters than Noël, greater novelists than Noël, greater librettists, greater composers of music, greater singers, greater dancers, greater comedians, greater tragedians, greater stage producers, greater film directors, greater cabaret artists, greater TV stars. If there are, they are fourteen different people. Only one man combined all fourteen different labels — The Master.» — Lord Mountbatten
(I could only hope to someday have praise such as this.)
Prior to seeing Sir Coward’s «Fallen Angels,» which was also performed at the Pasadena Playhouse, I wasn’t really familiar with his work. Indirectly, I suppose I was, but his name and his contribution to the arts wasn’t readily apparent. So I did some research: He’s penned over 50 plays and written over 300 songs! Many of his plays have been adapted to film; and he’s starred in, directed, written scripts for, and produced many, many others. And by the way, Joe Cocker’s 1970 live album, «Mad Dogs & Englishmen,» is a direct tribute to Coward’s 1931 song of the same title. (This is why I am indirectly familiar, if not much else.)
But also, the 1998 tribute album, «Twentieth-​Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward» includes many performances by others who collectively enjoy and applaud Coward’s work: Pet Shop Boys, Paul McCartney, Sting, Bryan Ferry, Marianne Faithfull, and Elton John, to name a few.
As you can see… Sir Noël Coward, he has clout. And he has backing to prove it. And the Pasadena Playhouse, in producing yet another of his extraordinary plays – this one being «A Song at Twilight» (actually one of a trio of plays entitled «Suite in Three Keys) – they know the genius of Coward as well! The performances and audience appreciation made it evident.
Thank you’s to the Pasadena Playhouse and to Katie B., as well. I had a great time!

I came to the Pasadena Playhouse to see A Song at Twilight with my husband on Thursday evening (8 pm showing, roughly 2 hour run time with 15 minute intermission). I wasn’t exactly sure if I would like this play after reading the premise, but figured it was worth checking out (Thank you Katie B. for the 2 comp tickets!).
I would have to say that this play is definitely better fit for an older crowd (leave the kids at home because I am pretty sure they will lose interest quick). There is definitely a LOT of dialogue and not as much action as I would have liked to see on stage. I am pretty amazed at how the actors were able to keep up with all of their lengthy lines and make their conversations between them very natural (bravo for that alone).
The play is supposed to take place during the 1960’s in Europe. The accents were a little hard for me to get used to at first and so I tried my best to listen to understand what they were saying (the women who plays Sir Hugo’s wife Hilde, is supposed to have a German accent and her accent was definitely the most difficult for me to follow at first). Just like the other previous Unilocalers had mentioned, the 1^st act is rather a bit long and slow. But it really did pick up shortly after coming back from the intermission. The story had finally unfolded and made you want to know what was going to happen next and see how this was going to end.
I wouldn’t exactly describe this play as a comedy, although there were some light hearted laughs (but not hardcore laugh out loud laughing) but was more of a drama (again, with a whole lot of dialogue). I had mentioned to my husband that I think I would have preferred to either have read the book (if there is a book) or have this play more modernized and w/​o the accents and have the dialogue be a little less I suppose.
But in the end, I enjoyed the play and the characters really did grow on me. Certain characters became more likable towards the end and made me wonder after the play was over what would happen next. After viewing this play, it made me want to get into a discussion group with other views and just talk about it (I’m so nerdy, I know).
The set design really added to the story line, with it’s furniture and layout.
In sum, a great play better suited for the intellectual mind and less of the lay audience. Plenty of dialogue that may turn the view off, but try to make it through the 1^st act and then you will want to finish the 2^nd act. Then you can talk about the play after it’s done with your date as you drive away in your car or go off to dinner.

I really enjoyed plays in college so it was a nice treat to go to my first one in almost a decade. I didn’t know what to expect from A Song At Twilight, but the story, as well as the characters, grew on you as the play went on. The four actors did a tremendous job of setting the tone whether it was comedic or dramatic. Although the first act dragged on a bit, it ended with a flourish.
The set design was very detailed and beautifully created. I was very upset that the characters did not finish the food in the scenes. That’s what happens when you invite a Unilocaler to these sort of affairs.
Overall, I enjoyed the performance and the plot. Although this was an era play, the themes are applicable to modern times and would be appreciated by anyone.

Really enjoyed this performance!
I had to get past the first few minutes though. At first, I found the accent from one of the characters annoying and I struggled to understand what was said. After awhile, I think my ear tuned into it… or perhaps it was because other characters came in and I understood THEM and her by context.
But in any case, I found the language extremely fast paced and witty… enviously wishing my retorts were as pointed and humorous. As I was watching it, I was thinking that I’d love to watch it again, or perhaps read the screenplay. This is a play where the dialog stands on its own and carries the performance. It was wonderful that the actors delivered their lines so perfectly.
I could not take my eyes off one of the characters. She was picturesque and elegant. I kept noticing how the color of her dress was reflected ever so slightly in the furnishings and how color was used throughout the one room set. Great set design and costuming.
Going into the play, not a lot had been provided online as to what the plot was about, and I will not ruin the surprises for you, but I found the subject matter poignant and relevant. As it was called a «Song of Twilight,» I could have discerned, had I thought to put more effort into doing so, that the twilight mentioned was a «twilight» time of life. It was fascinating to see three characters who were intended to be older and how they approached and viewed life and their history.
I absolutely recommend and wish I could see it again! Thank you Unilocal and Katie B for this opportunity. It was a great show.

What a marvelous and unexpected pleasure! A Song at Twilight by Noël Coward was an amazing, and touching play that I would most definitely recommend to any who have the pleasure of viewing it.
Without giving away too much, let me start off by saying that this play is full of unexpected twists, comedic relief, and wonderful drama! The four actors carried the play very well, and are worthy of commendation for their performance! I was surprised to see Sharon Lawrence looking as lovely as ever, as I have been accustomed to her work since I was a child. (Raised by television!) It is no wonder that this Noël Coward creation has lasted so many decades. It was well received by the audience and had us all laughing and crying!
I certainly had an amazing time, and I did not expect to love this play as much as I did. As someone in their early 20’s, I can honestly say this is certainly a treat to see for most mature audiences.

I didn’t expect all the white hair in the audience seats… The playhouse was full of mostly older crowd. I expected tonight’s Unilocal event to be mostly younger audience.
The stage design was impressive. The accents in the way they spoke and the language selection fit the era they were portraying perfectly. The first act felt like it was dragging a bit. But the comedy started to pick up and even the dramatic cutoff to the intermission was surprising but well done.
It was great to take a break to use the restroom and get fresh air outside. The courtyard in the front is perfect for the intermission.
The second act was very well performed. All the information from the first act started to fit and made me pay closer attention. The performers were all very good and I would definitely recommend this play.