LA WEEKLY March 14-20, 2003

The world has largely ignored Turkey's 1915 mass extermination of its Armenian population, but for Armenians, those atrocities are a vivid memory, here dramatized in Lilly Thomassian's flawed but eloquent fact-based play. Thomassian chooses a tight focus, limiting herself to three characters, a chorus (Stephanie Satie, Magda Harout and Amanda Troop) and a child (Miranda Leann Lopez) who represents death. Father (Jimmie F. Skaggs) and his daughters Gayaneh (Anais Thomassian) and Anoosh (Anna Der Nersesian) survive the death march across Turkey and escape to America, though Mother, Baby Brother and other relatives have died along the way. Their lives are riddled with hideous buried

memories, guilt, hatred and anger. In surreally potent scenes, they relive their suffering at the hands of the Turks. What's missing is basic context: Thomassian assumes a knowledge of Armenian history that many of us don't have. (Program notes might help.) And at the tend, she abandons her characters to a hortatory demand for justice reminiscent of Scheduler's List. Director Anita Khanzadian helms an impassioned production, incorporating Armenian music, dance and costumes, and she is well served by a fine cast. D.V. Caitlyn's set seems too pretty, but all technical credits are excellent. ShapeShifter Productions at the Fountain theater, 5060 Fountain Ave., Hlwyd.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; mats Sat.-Sund., 2 p,m.; thru April 27. (323) 663-1525. (Neal Weaver)