Soul One is a past life rock and roll adventure directed by Jesse Stratton and written by Travis Hughes (who also plays the rock star of the show in present time).
Soul One's main character is Jack Straw, a drug addicted rock star at the downturn of his life and career. At the advice of his agent, he begins hypno-therapy sessions with a psychiatrist, played by Chad Ramsey. Ramsey plays the role annoyingly well in a sing-song clown way that is very puzzling until the final scenes.
In the therapy sessions Straw remembers his past lives. In all these lives he is an artist or craftsman and the action revolves around him. The play travels through time and there are six acts; present time, caveman era, ice age, ancient Rome, wild west, and sci-fi future. Each actor plays a similar role at the six different times in history. The other members of his band are played with great comedy by Robbie Bersano, Josh Baker and especially Linsey Falls. Straw has the same wife/girlfriend in each time period, played by Gemma Crowley.
Jack's record company executive, William Talbert is played by Donaldson (he has only one name). He is the authority figure running through all of the different time periods and anchors each act with ease and skill. There is a spiritual figure in each act as well played adeptly by Amy France. She and Donaldson work very well together.
There are some very amusing scenes in this play and much to think over when it's done. In one scene, present day Jack Straw demands three hookers in his hotel room where instead of undressing them, he equips them with instruments to help him work on a song. Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" turns up as a song played on a bone flute in the caveman past. The show is at once a good comedy and a decent drama as Straw works through his pasts and even goes on into the future.
Soul One runs Friday and Saturday nights through April 29th at The National Pastime Theater, 4139 North Broadway Street.
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