Sitting high above the Pacific Ocean on the edge of Pacific Palisades and Malibu, the Getty Villa is one of the most stunning museums in the Los Angeles area. It is also one of the luckiest. As the January fires ravaged the surrounding areas, the museum was saved by brave staff and first responders. While it has always been an irresistible draw for those wanting to see the J. Paul Getty collection of Roman, Greek, and Etruscan antiquities, last weekend, it also became one of our favorite Los Angeles theaters.
What Plays at the Getty Villa Theater?
According to the official site, The Getty Villa’s outdoor theater offers a variety of programs:
“They include an annual outdoor theater production in a dramatic 450-seat outdoor classical theater based on ancient prototypes, staged play readings, musical performances, film 2 screenings, Family Festivals, artist demonstrations, lectures, workshops, and gallery and studio courses.”
Why is the Getty Villa Amphitheater Our Favorite Outdoor Los Angeles Theater?
Picture yourself driving along the coast and up a hill so that the ocean lies beneath you and twilight brings a glow to the sky. As you take your seats (cushions provided), there are no obstructed views, tempting food and drinks to be tried, and a hushed feeling as the lush landscaping (mostly miraculously saved from the flames) quiets the sound of traffic below you. Then, as the 8:00pm hour approaches, the stars wink on overhead as the “house” lights lower, and something magical takes hold. We were in love before the production even began.
Hard to believe that it took us more than a decade to finally make the pilgrimage to this thoroughly enchanting Los Angeles theater. Silly. We were silly.
What is Playing at The Getty Villa?
We saw Oedipus the King, Mama! If that title doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the book you read in school, there is a good reason for it. This show takes Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus the King and mashes it up with some of the most memorable music from the legend, Elvis Presley. I know. It doesn’t sound like it would work. But oddly, it does. And it’s hilarious, while still telling a disturbing tale that has been around since approximately 429 BC (depending on your sources).
The show is brought to the Villa by the Troubadour Theater Company. This incredibly talented group of players deserves every award they have gotten. It’s no small feat to combine musical thrills with classical texts. But they do it with great skill that somehow looks effortless. It makes me wish I had found them when I first moved to Los Angeles, and the urge to get back on stage was still strong. Now, I’m (mostly) content to stay in my seat and applaud their efforts.
More about the Troubies:
“Troubadour Theater Company is a freewheeling, no-holds-barred, commedia dell’arte-flavored, slapstick-driven, Los Angeles-based ensemble of actors, musicians and comedians that has been performing for delighted audiences of all ages since 1995. The Troubies, as they are affectionately called, provide fast-and-loose adaptations of classic plays, literature, and films, as well as original theatrical productions and events.”
Also, DAMN, they can sing. And dance. And bring the feels at just the right moment before plunging you into fits of laughter once again.
The Schedule
The good news is that you can still see the show through this weekend. Limited tickets are available on Thursday and Friday (September 25 and 26). Technically, Saturday, the final night, is sold out, but you can always call the theater to see if they have returns.
Overall: Our Experience
As you can see from the rapturous paragraph above, we thoroughly enjoyed the show. It had been a hard week, and we almost didn’t go. But we needed a laugh and to break up our routine.
The performers were terrific. Parking was surprisingly easy. We got there far earlier than we needed to, but we took that time to sip drinks and explore the grounds.
The only minor negative was that because of an agreement with neighbors, the performances feature limited microphones. This took me a moment to get used to because you really do need to pay close attention, and we sat near the top of the theater. But the performers project well, and I have a feeling it is more of a problem at the top of the amphitheater than down closer to the stage. There are also audio devices available to help those with hearing challenges, ensuring you won’t miss anything.
Will we go again? Absolutely. I already have next September circled on my calendar. Plus, now that I know the Getty Villa also host films and other musical performances, we may just get there more than once a year. I still can’t believe it took us so long to experience this fantastic outdoor Los Angeles theater.
Location:
The Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
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