Lexi Preiser ’10
Editor-in-Chief
The ninth annual One Act Play Festival occurred last weekend, displaying an edgy array of student-directed plays that touched upon many adult themes.
The selected plays focused on many serious issues, such as suicide, parental estrangement, sexual orientation, and loneliness. The ten minute long shows were often comical, presenting these topics in a funny and often touching manner.
Fifteen shows were presented in the Blackbox theatre, all directed by juniors and seniors in the Theatre 3 Directing class. Students were able to pick which scripts they wanted to direct and cast other Staples students to perform in their plays.
Jahari Dodd ’10 chose the play “Last Minute Adjustments” by Rich Orloff, a clever and unique script that takes place inside a womb and has a prenatal baby as its protagonist.
“The show explores what you need to be a person and if having a soul is worth living. It’s a development story, although an unconventional one,” says Dodd. The show, albeit quirky, is both touching and hilarious.
“It better be funny. I mean, it takes place in a vagina!” says Dodd.
Unconventional seems to be the theme of the One Act Play Festival. Plays ranged from witty and nonsensical to poignant and inspirational.
Senior Chris McNiff’s show, “Ledge,” featured two people standing on the ledge of a skyscraper, contemplating whether they should jump off or not. Although comical, the seven minute show was similarly touching, as the two characters decided that they would take another shot at life.
The play “Painted Rain,” directed by Brittany Oumoealea ’09, centered on two boys in an orphanage who were about to be separated after a year of living together. Chris Nicoletti’s ’10 chosen play, “The Moon, Please,” focused on a struggling married couple fighting in their apartment, minutes before the World Trade Center attacks happen.
Despite the many heavy-handed themes among the various plays, there was an overwhelming sense of hilarity among the shows. The Blackbox echoed with laughter as the Players executed their lines with perfect delivery and timing.
Max Stampa-Brown ’10 directed the hilarious show “Surprise!” by Mark Harvey Levine, which had Adam Bangser ’10 playing a psychic being dumped by his girlfriend. With perfect comedic timing, Bangser asks his waiter for a towel seconds before his date chucks her glass of water at him.
Flyers promoting the One Act festival warned ticket buyers that the shows were probably not suitable for children twelve and under. This proved to be an accurate assumption, as the collective shows abounded with sexual innuendos.
The selection of shows exemplified the maturity of Staples students, and also the acceptance of the Staples administration.
Jackie Dimitrief ’10, director of “Come into the Garden, Maude,” chose her play because it was suspenseful and unique. However, it happened to contain a few instances of sexual humor.
“When reading plays, I was really looking for what’s best for me, and that play happened to have some mature content, but Mr. Roth and the Staples administration are very open about letting student’s express what appeals to them and their individuality,” says Dimitrief.
In addition, the One Acts festival is a time for theatre students to explore interests other than acting.
“Directing really opens your eyes to a whole new aspect of players, including costume, lighting, music, sound, movement. Having people work under you is a totally different experience than being an actor,” says Dodd.
A notable fact about the One Act Festival is that all of the plays are, obviously, only one act long. Seeing a five to ten minute long play is an incredibly different, yet interesting, experience from viewing other lengthy theatre productions.
The infallible expertise of Players was displayed yet again through the conclusion of the ninth annual One Act Festival. Behind the sexual innuendos and jaunty humor lay a foundation of raw talent and impressive coordination, assembled solely by Staples students and their ideas.
