Moving a one-person show from stage to screen is a difficult task. Beating the odds, the first screening of Guardian Angels turns out to be a heavenly success.
By John Lavitt
North Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 06-30-2025
Before the first screening of Brian Delate’s Guardian Angels at Laemmle’s NoHo 7, some of the packed audience probably felt nervous jitters. After all, these were friends and creative collaborators of the talented actor-writer, who had experienced the magic of Brian’s one-man show at the Whitefire Theatre and The Road Theatre Company.
Would this wonder translate to the big screen like Spalding Gray’s Swimming to Cambodia (1987), a favorite that still resonates with audiences, or would it turn into a disjointed mess, shifting from theatrical brilliance into chaos, like the flawed adaptation of Eric Bogosian’s Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (1992)?
Fortunately, as Executive Producer Ellen Burstyn said, the film version of Guardian Angels was nothing less than “a kiss from the universe.” After connecting years ago at The Actor’s Studio in New York, Brian and Ellen have stayed close friends ever since. It is fortunate to have an actor like Ellen Burstyn involved in the project, as she starred in the 1980 film Resurrection. A profoundly spiritual film with an unexpected storyline, the deep roots of Resurrection also provide sustenance for the otherworldly explorations of Guardian Angels.
Both films tell stories that require a Kierkegaardian leap of faith beyond the rational. Although Resurrection follows a traditional narrative, while Guardian Angels is the filming of a one-person theatrical performance, they both feature main characters struggling with the dilemma of faith in an often violent and materialistic world. Even when something transcendent happens in your life, even when you believe you have had a first-hand white light experience that is undeniable, how do you go back to living a “normal” life in a tragically flawed and often broken world?
When Brian Delate shares his story on stage, his presence is captivating. The audience forms a deep, visceral bond with him, allowing such difficult questions to be raised. Would this connection translate to the big screen, or would viewers, especially those who have never seen the stage production, lose track of the story and fail to make a connection?
During the question-and-answer session that followed, several first-timers who had never seen the show live spoke about how deeply they were touched by Guardian Angels. The emotional impact of Brian’s Vietnam experience still resonated powerfully, while these new viewers felt his genuine empathy for veterans suffering today. In other words, the transition from stage to screen was a success.
The question now, of course, is what comes next. How will Brian Delate ensure that this version reaches a wider audience, both on the big screen and on television? From this critic’s perspective, it would be an ideal addition to the Amazon Prime Video Library. Moreover, now that his time of telling the stories of his Guardian Angels is past, what is next for Brian Delate?
