Review: ‘Hummingbirds Are Not Machines’ at LA City College Theatre Academy

Ensemble cast of "Hummingbirds Are Not Machines" at LA City College Theatre Academy

Shewan Edward’s “Hummingbirds Are Not Machines” — presented as an “elevated” staged reading at LA City College Theatre Academy’s Cameo Theatre and directed by Edward — is a contemporary play about a group of young adults confined in a medical facility as they try to understand the loss of someone close to them. The production deals heavily with grief and identity, showing how people process pain differently when they are still trying to make sense of what happened.

The concept of the play is strong, and there is something thoughtful in the way it tries to explore loss, memory and the emotional confusion that comes with grief. The themes of identity and grief are present throughout the production, and they create space to think about how different people carry pain. However, the reading does not always give those themes enough room to fully land.

The acting across the board needed more work. There were moments where the actors connected for a scene or a beat, but overall, the chemistry among the performers was not strong enough to fully support the story. Some moments simply did not land or connect on stage, which made it harder to become emotionally invested in the characters.

Micah, as the doctor, was the standout performer and brought the most grounded presence to the production. The supporting cast worked hard, and knowing this was originally supposed to be a reading, it’s commendable that the actors got off-book and attempted to fully bring the show to life. Unfortunately, they were not fully able to dock that ship by the end.

Edward’s direction had good intentions, but the production struggled with cohesion, especially during the second act. The blocking was one of the stronger parts of the show because I was able to see the majority of the performers’ faces throughout the production. However, the pacing and staging affected the overall flow. A lot of the scenes moved too quickly, which did not allow the emotional moments or the relationships among characters to breathe. At the same time, the transitions dragged and killed some of the momentum. Some of the set pieces could have been removed or simplified to help the show move more smoothly.

The set design was sparse and actor-centered, using chairs, tables and movable pieces to shape the environment. While that approach allowed flexibility, the constant movement of set pieces sometimes worked against the production. The costume design was simple across the board, with the ensemble in casual clothing and the doctors in medical-style attire. The lighting was also simple, mostly using fluorescent white light that resembled a doctor’s office.

Audience engagement felt mixed. As the production continued into the second act, I could feel the audience becoming unsettled, and some people began making quiet remarks under their breath.

“Hummingbirds Are Not Machines” has meaningful themes and a strong idea at its center, but this production needs more time, tighter transitions and stronger chemistry among the actors. With more attention and development, I do think the cast could put together a more captivating show and give this production stronger legs to stand on.

LA City College Theatre Academy’s “Hummingbirds Are Not Machines” performed April 30 to May 2 as an “elevated” staged reading at LACC’s Cameo Theatre, 855 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. It will perform there again as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival from June 13 to 27. Tickets are free and can be reserved here.