Have you ever wished you could choose your parents? Thirteen-year-old Julien has. He’s looking for a new dad.
On first impression, the story of “Pascal & Julien” seems like a tearjerker — and yet, I found myself smiling more often than not. Written by acclaimed Australian playwright Daniel Keene, “Pascal & Julien” was originally commissioned in France.
Here in Los Angeles, 24th Street Theatre brings a lighthearted charm and whimsy to the U.S. and English-language premiere of the show. With Spanish supertitles throughout the play and a pay-what-you-can performance option, 24th Street Theatre is a leading example of accessibility in the LA theater community. The space felt warm and communal in a way I love the theater to be. It only made sense that the story was equally pleasant.
Set in Paris, Julien (Darby Winn) searches for a new dad among regulars at a café across the street from his family’s apartment — where his actual father lives. Their day-to-day turmoil isn’t the focus of this play, however, because Julien finds a replacement dad. The socially-isolated crossword puzzle enthusiast, Pascal (Paul Turbiak), is Julien’s chosen surrogate. From their first interaction at the café, the audience understands the potential for Pascal and Julien’s connection, perhaps even more than they do. Despite their bickering over that Sunday’s crossword, there is a glimmer of opportunity — a reminder that anything is possible, even the most unlikely companionship.
Each scene serves as a vignette, through which the seasons change and Pascal and Julien form a bittersweet connection. During all of this, it’s evident that Julien’s father is an absent parent who doesn’t notice or care that his son has replaced him with an unfamiliar man. This point underscores the entire play without ever being communicated outright.
Winn’s honest portrayal of youthful naivety is marked by the fact that Julien seemingly doesn’t comprehend his biological father’s neglect. Frankly, we don’t understand it either. And yet, I never felt a need for rationality while watching Pascal and Julien’s bond come to be.
When they are optimistic, so are we. When they are trusting, so are we. Turbiak and Winn’s chemistry is palpable and their characters’ energy is contagious — they illuminate the room with their combined physical presence.
Though “Pascal & Julien” only features two actors, the stage never feels empty or boring. Each scene is introduced by a life-sized dynamic doodle of the characters projected onto a transparent screen. In tandem with Bradley Brough’s brilliantly playful score, these moments brought me so much joy. Simply put, you’d have to see it to appreciate it.
Debbie Devine lends a tender hand to the direction of this play. It’s obvious that the award-winning director is a seasoned leader in youth arts education. “Pascal & Julien” teaches you a lesson without you realizing it — a lesson in patience and the importance of human connection. “This is what family means to me,” Devine said, “Folks that are there for one another.”
“Pascal & Julien” is simple and lighthearted, a refreshing reminder that theater doesn’t have to be painful, even if the story is emotionally loaded. This kind of theater is for everyone — it seems this inclusivity is what Debbie Devine and 24th Street Theatre do best.
Whether you’re a novice theater-goer or a seasoned veteran, “Pascal and Julien” is digestible and joyous. 24th Street Theatre reinforces that the most wonderful things are just outside your door — and like Julien, sometimes you just have to look.