Learning to Fly
updated: Feb 05, 2010, 5:56 AM

By Lisa Burns

Coming home after a long evening at the Arlington Theater, Matthew R. Burns summed it up - a directorial debut should be expected to be a learning experience. Cary Elwes, a featured actor in "Flying Lessons" described director Derek Magyar on the set as just one of the gang. Allowing actors their space might make Robert Altman a successful director, but "Flying Lessons" is plain indulgent. It also made for a late-night post-party.

For me the highlight of the evening came much earlier on the Ed Carpet where I had a chance to interview the ensemble cast of "Flying Lessons", including Maggie Grace, a stunner on the red catwalk. Ms Grace played Shannon in the TV series "Lost" and I had to ask whether or not she actually got on the airplane, since in this season's parallel reality plot, she did not arrive in Los Angeles. I would take the answer "just wait" as a yes.

When asked why he signed on to "Flying Lessons", Carl Elwes said it was an opportunity to work with Hal Holbrook, a consummate actor. Mr. Holbrook told me that he had been acting for 69 years, "It was all I wanted to do and all I did." When asked why he loves to act, he told me that it was the heightened reality of being "really there" with another actor doing a scene. Indeed, even at our brief encounter on the red carpet, I could see how his strong focus and presence make other actors relish working with Hal Holbrook. A much better showcase for Mr. Holbrook's craft is "That Evening Sun" which shows Friday, February 5 at 7:15 at Metro 4 Theater.

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