Joan of Arkansas Would you rather die or be imprisoned? This powerful question is the premise of the short play “Joan of Arkansas.” Laura and Dennis, played by EJ Ejiogu ’11 and Cliff Brannan ’11, are college students who meet in the library while studying for the last day of finals. But why are they squabbling over an upside-down bucket? And what do Ejiogu and a red laser pen have in common? The answers to these questions and many more will be revealed to you tonight, when you venture to the Theatre Classroom to witness the start of a new term of DramaLabs. A discussion of Oscar Wilde and Joan of Arc slowly draws Laura and Dennis together and reveals their similar backgrounds and insecurities. However, allusions to historical prisoners take on a whole new meaning when a mildly annoying bird (represented by a red laser pen by stage manager Steven Kosovac ’11), infiltrates the library and presents the students with an ethical dilemma—one that could ultimately tear them apart. “I chose this play because I thought it was different, the way the timing worked,” said veteran director Jeannine Anderson ’11. “I also liked the characters, and the parallel between the bird and Laura created an interesting challenge in how to convey that to the audience. Hopefully, it works!” Anderson also addressed the issue of being expected to perform only two weeks after the new term began. “Given the complexity of this play, it’s been a little tough, but I’m more on top of things because of the time limit. This is the second show [I’ve directed], so I feel like know what I’m doing.” Anderson explained that her greatest challenge has been trying to ensure that the audience will understand the significance of what is happening on stage. “A lot of the subtle things that you would notice in real life aren’t visible on stage, where everything needs to be so much more theatrical. It’s difficult because you can’t be subtle; you have to amplify everything,” she said. From what I’ve seen, Ejiogu and Brannan have taken their director’s words to heart. Joan of Arkansas is a perfect blend of drama and comedy – a sweet, funny, and moving story that speaks to us all. Can This Marriage Be Saved? “Order in the court!” demands the bailiff, Brandon Wright ’11. “On the docket today is the divorce case of the Entire Human Race versus God.” Judge Miranda Haymon ’12 slams the gavel; the trial begins- and you do not want to miss a word. Laura Lee ’11 represents The Human Race, which has lost faith in God and charges the creator with “alienation of affection, neglect and abandonment.” Not to mention the Holocaust. How could God have let such an atrocity occur? “You allow too much suffering,” she says. But Khalil Flemming ’12, who plays God in the role of a lifetime, is not willing to give up without a fight. “I don’t control human behavior… You always focus on the negative,” he counters. “What about my miracles?” “I can’t remember the last time there were any miracles,” Lee retorts. “The sun rose this morning, didn’t it?” Flemming asks. First-time director Kevin Song ’11 said, “I would say this show is a serious comedy—does that exist?” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Hopefully, the audience won’t see this as a deeply intellectual thing.” Song described how he wants the audience to see a traditional relationship in a completely new and wacky light. At one point in the play, the bailiff swears God into the trial. “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help yourself?” “I do,” says Flemming, shooting a malevolent glare at the prosecution. Throughout the show, the tension between Lee and Flemming is palpable, Haymon whips them into shape as the forceful judge, and Wright’s bailiff provides some comic relief. The result is an entertaining but thought-provoking depiction of a ridiculous scenario. Yet the question remains: Can This Marriage Be Saved? Blind Date When Marsha, played by Keely Henesey ’12, shyly opens the door of her apartment to greet the guy her friend recommended, the last thing she expects to see is a proper, English gentleman with a walking stick- or is it a cane? So what do you do when your blind date is actually blind? Trying to be polite, Marsha attempts to make conversation, but stumbles over various, unintentional blind jokes. Yet she and Ted, the blind gentleman, played by Charles Horner ’12, really hit it off. The scene is hysterically melodramatic, at one point, Marsha exclaims, “You are the man I’ve been waiting for!” until Marsha becomes suspicious of her date’s sincerity. Convinced that Ted and his British accent are a scam, Marsha goes on a comical quest for vicious revenge. First-time director Matt Kelley ’10 said, “I was looking through books for the longest time. I didn’t want to do anything serious yet. When I read this script the second time, something clicked, and I had this magical realization that it was perfect.” Kelley’s favorite part of the script takes place at the end of the play. “Marsha pins [Ted] down and straddles him on the couch. He screams, and there’s all this commotion. Keely and Charles do this perfectly. I didn’t even tell them what to do, and it was perfect.” Kelley said he was not trying to be overly profound. “Honestly, it’s just amusing. It’s nothing ground-breaking or serious. Hopefully, the audience will have a good time and think it was a decent show.” This Friday, forget those April showers! Come see chaos reign in this hilarious comedy, Blind Date.
