PASCAL & JULIEN at the 24th Street Theater

Pascal & Julien is the U.S. premiere of a magical play about childhood and friendship at the award-winning 24th Street Theater in West Adams, running through October 27. Written by Australian playwright Daniel Keene, Pascal & Julien is the story of two quirky, annoying loners who discover the delicate beauty of friendship. One is a single man in his forties (Paul Turbiak) who goes alone every day to his favorite Paris cafe to do his crossword puzzle. The other is a lonely, frustrated child (Darby Winn) who watches him through his binoculars from his nearby apartment. This is a simple fable about human relationships, whimsical, gentle and bittersweet.

Pascal & Julien has a quiet and captivating simplicity without ever being really loud or dramatic. Somehow you fall in love with its quiet, beguiling charm, its sensitivity and its sweetness and fullness of heart.

Pascal & Julien is carried by a great performance from young lead Darby Winn as Julien. Darby Winn is a rising star, a child actor with the sensitivity, emotional intelligence and magnetic charisma of actors three times his age. Winn's impeccable comedic timing is responsible for the audience's incessant laughter throughout the play. This is a vibrant, powerful performance that is delightfully understated, truthful and rich in texture and nuance. I had the pleasure of seeing Darby Winn shine in an unforgettable production of 5-Star Theatricals' Oliver! and I can't wait to see what he does next.

Darby Winn has great chemistry with the extremely charming Paul Turbiak, whose superb portrayal of Pascal is layered, endearing, honest and hilarious. The direction by Debbie Devine, artistic director of the 24th Street Theatre, is brilliant, subtle, elegantly crafted and deeply sensitive.

The production contains many small, beautiful, thoughtful touches: the detailed, beautiful set design by set designer Keith Mitchell, the old copy of Le Monde that Pascal reads, the mountains of delicious French cream puffs happily distributed in the inviting lobby. The wistful, evocative and tender music by composer Bradley Brough is enchanting.

I generally detest projections, which strike me as an unfortunate, out-of-control fad in tech theater, but I love the projections in award-winning multidisciplinary storyteller and video designer Matthew G. Hill's Pascal and Julien. Sketchy, delicate, wistful, soulful, they have a poetic beauty that is absolutely magical. Assistant director Jesús Castaños–Chima also provides excellent Spanish translations and subtitles.

It was my first time at the 24th Street Theatre. There is something very welcoming about the place, from the refreshing cold bottles of water you get when you enter the lobby to the genuine, deep warmth and sense of community in the beautiful historic space, a converted carriage house in historic, vibrant West Adams. Everyone from the ushers to the senior staff greets the audience with open arms and a loving smile. It feels like coming home.

The 24th Street Theater is a theater with an open door policy, offering its neighbors a place to grab a cup of coffee or cold water, do homework, get help, or feed the community's feral cats. The 24th Street Theater's heartfelt mission is community engagement and arts education, as well as offering family theater that is well-thought-out, deeply engaging, and entertaining for everyone. If you haven't had a chance to stop by the 24th Street Theater, I encourage you to explore this charming local gem with a mission.

Please note: Roles may be understaffed or alternatively filled.

Photos by Jay McAdams and Jennie McInnes

Pascal & Julien runs through October 27 at the 24th Street Theater. The 24th Street Theater is located at 1117 West 24th St., Los Angeles, CA 90007 (at the intersection of 24th and Hoover). There is a gated parking lot across from the theater and on-street parking. To obtain tickets, call (213) 745-6516 or click the button below:

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