The Pitch
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The Pitch and Design for Living at the Odyssey, Newsies at the Carpenter Center
By Shari Barrett
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July 18, 2024
Based on a true story taking place in Los Angeles in 2006, playwright Tom Alper plays the lead role in his play The Pitch, centering around widower Tom Allen who is raising his 15-year-old daughter as a single dad. Desperate for money, he grabs at a telemarketing job selling machine parts over the phone in a no-frills, windowless office in Torrance. Soon he discovers his job requires its sales staff to make ethical compromises, occasionally misrepresenting the products being sold. And with a large white board looming over him listing the sellers by their number of orders, Tom finds himself in competition with his co-workers, a motley crew whose only goal is to reach the top of the list. His tension builds as he discerns that his boss may be under investigation by the authorities, endangering the job that Tom needs to provide for his daughter now that she is garnering the attention of boys. So how many compromises will Tom make if he wishes to remain a moral man and a good dad?
Sharply directed at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble by Louie Liberti, whose recent performance as a self-centered Italian street-smart cop mesmerized me in the world premiere of The Witness Roomby award-winning playwright Pedro Antonio Garcia, as The Pitch scenes unfold you will start to wonder just who, if anyone, ever tells the truth about anything. Finally deciding to make a name for himself, Tom takes on a cold call challenge and surprises everyone with his ability to use his charms on a female potential customer (Rachel Butera as Angela from New Jersey) to close the deal, resulting in his advancement to the top of the all-important sales list.
It’s a perfect scene for playwright Alper to play since he knows the character inside and out, and I guarantee you will be riveted as he achieves the goal of not only selling to her but also getting her home phone number, thus gaining the respect of the entire sales team (Connor Killeen as The Kid, Chris Cox as alcoholic Ricky Ray, Albie Selznick as Scramby) and his boss Mike (Joseph Lorenzo). But tensions mount as former sales star Skunk (Monty Renfrow) struggles to regain his former top spot, with desperation affecting his temper and sales abilities.
Desperate to be sure his daughter (Isabella DiBernardino as Michelle) is studying and not out cheerleading in her too-short skirt or skin-tight short shorts, Tom is furious when gets home to find her engaging in chit-chat with a handsome young man (Grant Hall as Jason) there to deliver a letter to him from the I.R.S. But why was that letter already opened when delivered? It soon got me wondering if it was just a ruse set-up by his co-workers, especially after Tom met with I.R.S agent Mel (William Warren) to go over money owed on his past returns.
The Pitchcontains enough challenging situations, memorable characters, and twists and turns in its plot to make it a worthy pitch for your attention. And if you have ever worked in a telemarketing office as I have, this play will bring back memories of the stress when trying to make that sale.
Produced by Christine Blackburn and presented by Waterfront Productions as a visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles 90025 through August 4 on Friday/Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. Free onsite parking. Tickets are $25-30 by calling (310) 477-2055 ext 2 or online at https://odysseytheatre.com
The Pitch Review – Telemarketing USA
July 18, 2024 Elaine Mura Entertainment 0
William Warren and Tom Alper in THE PITCH -- Spread the love.
Penned by Tom Alper (who is also a member of the ensemble cast), THE PITCH premiered in Hollywood in 2023. Produced by Tom Alper and Christine Blackburn, Waterfront Productions brings THE PITCH to the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles in 2024. THE PITCH explores the dynamics and ethics of the flood of telemarketing sales in the U.S. – where no two individuals in the transaction ever get to see the other while sizable sums of money sizzle through cyberspace. THE PITCH is reportedly based on a true story. It’s hard to believe, but perhaps reality really is stranger than fiction.
Widower Tom Allen (Tom Alper) is facing a serious problem. A single parent, Tom is raising 15-year-old Michelle (Isabella DeBernardino), his teenaged daughter. The bills are piling up, and his recent employment has been spotty at best. Desperate for money, Tom leaps at the chance to sell electronic parts over the phone in what looks very much like a boiler-room set-up. Although he is personable, hard-working, and beyond motivated, Tom just can’t seem to make any sales. But then his co-workers Skunk (Monty Renfrow), “The Kid” (Connor Killeen), Ricky Ray (Chris Cox), and Scramby (Albie Selznick) – and even his boss Mike (Joseph Lorenzo) – take pity on him and share the secret of how to become a sales superstar. A little nudge, and Tom is off and running. But he must still deal with his teenaged daughter, who is just beginning the journey from childhood to adulthood, with all the trials and tribulations that entails. Besides Tom’s already full plate, he is being audited by IRS. To add to his owes, Tom discovers that he might have to make ethical compromises to excel – rounding out a generally disappointing time in his life.
Sounds depressing? THE PITCH is far from it. In a hilarious poke at today’s economy and the compromises sometimes required, THE PITCH examines the ethical conundrum posed by tele-sales while introducing the audience to what may be the craziest crowd of salesmen in town. Guess how Skunk got his nickname – and what about Scramby? Nothing on the laugh meter can compare to Tom’s meetings with Mel (William Warren), his friendly neighborhood IRS agent. Kudos to skilled director Louie Liberti and the entire ensemble cast: they make a ridiculously funny and very entertaining team.
The off-the-wall cast seem to be truly enjoying themselves creating Tom’s own special hell – and the audience is clearly richly entertained by the shenanigans that follow. Set designer Catarina Piccarrdo has fun developing three scenes on one stage at the same time. Just watch an entire living room inch forward, courtesy of a conveniently placed carpet. The show might be stymied without Jackson Funke’s lighting and Ross Chait’s sound. THE PITCH is definitely a group effort, and the audience will enjoy every minute of it.
THE PITCH runs through August 4, 2024, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. on Sundays. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025. Tickets are $30 (seniors and students $25). For information and reservations, call 310-477-2055 or go online.
Author Elaine Mura
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