The Prom

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The Prom, at Theater South Playhouse was such an unexpected delight. Theater South is a tiny gem of a theater near Isleworth. The play is based on the book by Bob Martin, with book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin and music by Mathew Sylar. The show was directed by Tara Kromer.

It had a huge cast that barely fit on the stage when they were all on stage together at the curtain call. The theater’s web site encouraged masks, but they are not required. I was delighted to see two huge air purifiers purring away in the theater. Pam and I were two of the 4 people in the audience wearing masks.

The show is about Emma (Jana Denning) who wants to go to the Prom with Alyssa (Gia Milazzo). Their love is secret but Emma wants the night to be their chance to shine. The small Illinois tow cancels the Prom to squelch the controversy of forbidden love. This heavy handed solution however blows up in their face since it garners the attention of some famous actors who decide that Emma is their new cause.

New York City stars visited the town and made Emma’s story their own. At first they had a narcissistic need to be in the spotlight but over time they truly learned to help.

I have such a deep respect for the talent of this mostly teen cast. Following local news I recently saw a video of a teen who took the bus to go to a town meeting and beg for the government officials to allow her the right to exist. Another trans teen was asked by an official if she had a dick. I have to wonder if he has any morality.

Emma had hoped that the Prom would be her chance to celebrate her love. But on the night of her prom she walked into a completely empty gym. The PTA had moved the prom to a different venue without telling her.  This play is a celebration of inclusivity in a town that has ancient undercurrents of racism and homophobia. The hope lies in the younger generation who can see the light when they know they are being persuaded to be vicious and mean.

Janna Demming really hits the ball out of the park with her solos. When she performed a facetime guitar solo about her desire to just be herself, I have to admit I shed a tear. That performance went viral and suddenly kids from all around the country were online sharing their similar stories of being excluded and unable to be themselves. A second prom was planned to include everyone and new friends came in from out of town. This prom was a blow out celebration. The rainbow waving joyous celebration seemed to be perfectly suited for Orlando which is a beautiful inclusive gem in the sea of hate that is Florida.

The show continues through February 26th and I highly recommend it. Prepare to be dazzled.

 

Super Variety Match Bonus Round at Fringe

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Jousha Productions presented Super Variety Match Bonus Round at Orlando Fringe.Written by Deb Hiett and directed by Tara Kromer, the show featured Mags (Elizabeth Murff) and Erns Eagleton (Rod Cathey) who were lower middle class people living out their retirement in a small Texas Town. They were set in their ways being rather xenophobic, and homophobic. Their daily routine was only occasionally interrupted by the UPD delivery lady named Delores (Maria Flores).

As the play opened Mags was asleep in front of the TV. Erns entered with soup and the loving way her served her was heart warming. Mags was supposed to have narcolepsy which means she could nod off at any moment. They reminded me of members of my own family living only through the TV news that supports their views.

However there was a hint of loss in the set. An American flag was folded into a triangle and framed in a wooden display case. This unfortunately was from the loss of their son who had served in the military. Part of what held them in place was their grief and guilt over his death. Without informing Mags, Erns had decided to rent out their sons room as an Air B and B. A large concert was rolling into their small town and it would be easy to rent out the space which would help with their mounting expenses. Mags was upset about the idea of allowing a stranger in to their home but she relented since it was already a done deal.

Enter Chrz (Douglas Warren Jensen) who wore a bright pink feminine blouse showing his tummy, a furry white anime cap with long ears a white skirt and knee high red striped socks. The cap had led lights that made it glow. it was magical. His high spirits and enthusiasm were in stark contrast the couples insular conservative life. Clearly they had never met someone as joyously gay as Chrz. He was honest sincere and compassionate so these polar opposites began to share and relate to each other.

He decided the couple needed to loosen up if they were to find their way through grief and when he left for the concert he left behind a small bit of LSD which was hidden in Erns and Mag dinner as they settled in to watch TV. The second act was a high stakes LSD fueled game show in which the couple had the chance to win the life of their son back or a chance to move on with their lives. A small seed had been planted for them to once again embrace their life instead of regretting their loss.

PlayFest: I Can Go

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I sketched the first read through rehearsal for  I Can Go by Meridith Friedman
which is a Comic Drama at the Orlando Shakes (812 Rollins Street Orlando FL).

Armed with sharp tongues and dry wit, Richard (Dan Bright) and David (Alexander Mrazek) navigate complex family relationships on the eve of their wedding. Despite hindrances ranging from little white lies to life-altering secrets, I Can Go uncovers human truths about the ones they love most. This contemporary and wryly humorous dramedy is the final installment in a series of three plays by Meridith Friedman, following The Luckiest People (produced by Orlando Shakes in April 2018) and Your Best One (read at PlayFest 2017).

I had seen and sketched a production of The Luckiest People but missed Your Best One. Despite that I felt quickly up to speed and familiar with this family and cast who had already won my heart. The patriarchal father had passed away but the family had a way of resolving any differences with humor. Richard and David now have an adopted son, Josh (Connar Vidman). Josh didn’t have a large part in the section of the rehearsal I sketched, but I heard him rehearsing in the Shakes lobby and thus knew something of his back story.  Richard’s sister, Laura (Suzanne O’Donnell) spilled a family secret in her attempts to get the attention of her son Matt (Terance Lee) who seemed largely shut off, tuned in to his headset. Nancy (Kate Denson), David’s mom sat with her back to me. She had a calming voice and seemed the anchor of fairness and reason as wedding plans escalated into petty arguments.



For me, this was time well spent with a family I already had grown to love, and a fun cast who seemed at home in this family’s skin. You don’t have to have seen the previous two dramas by Meridith Friedman for this show to make sense. There was a relaxed humor as they eased into the comedic drama. This is clearly going to be a fun performance.

Director: Tara Kromer,
Stage Manager: Jackqueline Hilliker, Stage Directions Reader: Kaley Pharr.

The performance will be on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Beth Marshall Presented Wilds as part of the New Works Series

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Beth Marshall‘s new work series presented new works by playwrights. There were over 170 submissions and just two plays winners were selected from the play writing contest. The inaugural New Works Series featured workshop play readings from Top Teen actors mixed of industry professionals. Pam Schwartz I went to Class Act Studios (11561 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando, Florida 32825) to sketch the first play by author Lisa VillaMil. Wilds is a surrealist play about intolerance, whose plot draws from
social and political events of the past year, including Brexit, the
United States’ election, Poland’s attempted total-ban on abortion, and
the Syrian refugee crisis, particularly in relation to Hungary. It is
told in a series of short interwoven scenes of various plot lines.

The show was directed by Tara Kromer. Stage manager, (Jazzlyn Whiddonn) read at playwrights notes to set up each scene. The first scene that really struck a chord was an office meeting with men surrounding a conference table and Phoebe, (Arianna Aviles) as the only female employee. The boss (Nick Serino) ran the meeting and any time Phoebe offered insight, she was cut off. One of her ideas was repeated by one of the male employees and the boss praised him for the concept. They wanted to market their product to a female audience but refused to listen to any idea Phoebe offered.  After the meeting, the boss cornered her and asked why she was being so aggressive by speaking out at the meeting. She had actually been quite meek. It was clear that a woman has to work so much harder to have her voice heard. Men can act like assholes and be rewarded for their contributions but woman must stay subservient. In another scene Phoebe sat on a park bench and a man literally walked up and sat in her lap because he hadn’t seen that she was there. She was becoming invisible.

A politician (Joshua Huff ) spoke about the need to close borders to keep the unwanted out of our country. Every misguided word seemed to have already been said by our present president. An immigrant named Dinah (Alexia Correa) managed to make her way across the border but she was stopped by border patrol. Her baby was taken from her as she faced detention. She asked everyone she talked to where her baby was and no one would answer her. Childless she was finally released and she wandered the street with a photo of her child asking anyone she met if they had seen her child. Anger and frustration turned her into a wild animal.

One scene involved a character talking about having an extra cone receptor in his eyes that lets him see far more color that the average person. I had just listened to a segment on WMFE radio about these trichromats. As an artist I hope I have this extra receptor. One person referred to my use of color as garish, and I have tended to mute the pallet since. The point didn’t really forward the plot in the play however. In another scene a man played the part of a female nurse advising Phoebe to not have an abortion. Gender was blurred for effect. The play became surreal as one woman disappeared and the other turned into a wild cat.

The play resonated with political subjects we are all experiencing now in America. Everyone in the audience but a 14 year old agreed that the play should be produced for the stage. Beth Marshall is producing plays this year that are written by women or minorities. She is well aware that her primary audience is old and usually looking for simple escapist entertainment. Despite this she wants to present them with challenging contemporary works that challenge the status quo.

On Saturday June 30, 2018, at 3 p.m. Beth Marshall presents The Top Teens Showcase, featuring the acting, singing, musical, technical, and
performance art talents of select young emerging artists that are
theatrically coached and mentored or adjudicated by Beth Marshall
throughout the season. Local veteran industry professionals adjudicate
and award scholarships as well as we will be launching the BMP and
Billy Manes Arts Activism Scholarship. Scholarships provided by: Beth
Marshall Presents, Florida Theatrical Association and The Billy Manes
Society.This will be at Class Act Studios – 11561 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando, FL 32825. Tickets are $15.