Student performances are funny and poignant
Amy Hartsough
Issue date: 3/15/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
Student Theatre at Bellarmine (ST@B) presented a "Festival of Shorts" on Feb. 22-24 and March 1-2 in Wyatt Blackbox Theater. The show included four short plays, each one being no more than twenty minutes long.
"Words, Words, Words" was directed by Victoria Lewis, a junior at Bellarmine. Bellarmine students Tony Thigpen, Deana Meiners and Stephanie Kortyka played monkeys who are forced to participate in an experiment to see if monkeys who type to infinity will eventually produce Hamlet. Thigpen got the most laughs from the audience because of his exaggerated ape-like movements and facial expressions. All three actors gave convincing monkey impressions. The costumes were outrageous: each monkey was dressed in colorful human outfits, some featuring hats but no shoes. The scene moved along quickly as the monkeys contemplated the meaning of their lives as subjects of an experiment.
"The Dancing Clown" was written by Bellarmine theater professor Lee Smith and directed by Bellarmine junior Jordan C. Kelch. Sophomore Ashtin Riney and freshman Jeff Schreiner starred in this short play about a young unmarried couple struggling to love each other the right way. The costumes were simple enough: Schreiner wore a pair of shorts and Riney wore a sheer robe over her bra and underwear. The play took place in their bedroom. Schreiner got some laughs from the audience, especially when Riney put makeup on him on stage. Riney and Schreiner both gave excellent performances; the scene featured several intimate kisses and both actors appeared comfortable on stage. Mara Piechowski applied the sprawling, intricately designed special effects "tattoo" to Schreiner's back.
"Just be Frank" was directed by Andy Coverstone and Craig Spenlau. This show had the largest cast which included six people: Sara Lacy as Charlene, Rachel Bledsoe and Carrie Cooke as Jan, Kate Barry as Diane, Mitch Greenwell as the Secretary and Tim Curtsinger as Mr. Ross. "Just be Frank" is a hilarious short play about Charlene, a woman who tries to increase her chances of earning a promotion at work by wearing a bright pink suit that she claims is salmon-colored. This show got the most laughs out the viewers. The cast worked well together, creating a comedic energy on stage that permeated the audience.
"Rockaby" was directed by Lee Smith and starred Victoria Lewis. This play was not well received by the audience; most people looked uncomfortable during the performance. Lewis played an old woman in a lonely rocking chair on stage. She rocked slowly back and forth while the loud speaker played the voice of a woman speaking in a slow, deep voice. The show lacked energy and the audience got antsy because of the repetition: every time the woman on the speaker was finished talking, Lewis said "more," and the woman would continue her speech. At the end of the play, Lewis's character died in the rocking chair. It was a solemn scene to end the one-acts with, and by the end, the audience was ready to leave.
Proceeds from the performances went to House of Ruth, a local association that cares for people with HIV and AIDS. House of Ruth is the only local organization that cares for children with AIDS.
"Words, Words, Words" was directed by Victoria Lewis, a junior at Bellarmine. Bellarmine students Tony Thigpen, Deana Meiners and Stephanie Kortyka played monkeys who are forced to participate in an experiment to see if monkeys who type to infinity will eventually produce Hamlet. Thigpen got the most laughs from the audience because of his exaggerated ape-like movements and facial expressions. All three actors gave convincing monkey impressions. The costumes were outrageous: each monkey was dressed in colorful human outfits, some featuring hats but no shoes. The scene moved along quickly as the monkeys contemplated the meaning of their lives as subjects of an experiment.
"The Dancing Clown" was written by Bellarmine theater professor Lee Smith and directed by Bellarmine junior Jordan C. Kelch. Sophomore Ashtin Riney and freshman Jeff Schreiner starred in this short play about a young unmarried couple struggling to love each other the right way. The costumes were simple enough: Schreiner wore a pair of shorts and Riney wore a sheer robe over her bra and underwear. The play took place in their bedroom. Schreiner got some laughs from the audience, especially when Riney put makeup on him on stage. Riney and Schreiner both gave excellent performances; the scene featured several intimate kisses and both actors appeared comfortable on stage. Mara Piechowski applied the sprawling, intricately designed special effects "tattoo" to Schreiner's back.
"Just be Frank" was directed by Andy Coverstone and Craig Spenlau. This show had the largest cast which included six people: Sara Lacy as Charlene, Rachel Bledsoe and Carrie Cooke as Jan, Kate Barry as Diane, Mitch Greenwell as the Secretary and Tim Curtsinger as Mr. Ross. "Just be Frank" is a hilarious short play about Charlene, a woman who tries to increase her chances of earning a promotion at work by wearing a bright pink suit that she claims is salmon-colored. This show got the most laughs out the viewers. The cast worked well together, creating a comedic energy on stage that permeated the audience.
"Rockaby" was directed by Lee Smith and starred Victoria Lewis. This play was not well received by the audience; most people looked uncomfortable during the performance. Lewis played an old woman in a lonely rocking chair on stage. She rocked slowly back and forth while the loud speaker played the voice of a woman speaking in a slow, deep voice. The show lacked energy and the audience got antsy because of the repetition: every time the woman on the speaker was finished talking, Lewis said "more," and the woman would continue her speech. At the end of the play, Lewis's character died in the rocking chair. It was a solemn scene to end the one-acts with, and by the end, the audience was ready to leave.
Proceeds from the performances went to House of Ruth, a local association that cares for people with HIV and AIDS. House of Ruth is the only local organization that cares for children with AIDS.
Be the first to comment on this story