| Duranged - 40th St Stage | | Print | |
| Written by M. J. Garland | |
| Tuesday, 20 June 2006 | |
.jpg "Image") CORE Theatre Company kicks off the summer at 40th St. Stage with Duranged, two comedies by Christopher Durang. This duo consists of The Nature and Purpose of the Universe and Titanic - two one-act plays which are sure to keep you laughing and asking “what is the purpose of this universe?”
CORE Theatre Company, a theatre group started by students at O.D.U., chose to begin their endeavors this summer with two productions which are sure to make you laugh. All I suggest is that you bring your sense of humor because some audience members may feel Durang has crossed a line. I have to give credit to director EDWIN CASTILLO, who refers to the plays as a “fine line between funny and downright despairing.” He has managed to gather a group of performers who stick to their guns and create consistency in characters that even some local adult performers lack.
Some of these performers in “Nature and Purpose” are overshadowed by others' outrageous performances which keep you asking “what next?” An example of this is the role of Ronald portrayed by ROBERT WILSON, who has graced the local stage in such productions as The Boys Next Door, where he managed to burn a loving and gentle character into our minds. Here he is a narrator and just that, a narrator. There is no flair, but due to his past performances I will say Durang wrote nothing for him. Not to mention it is difficult to stand up next to other outrageous characters such as the castrated 8 year old son Andy who lost “it” in a reaping accident. Andy, played by JEREMY LISTER, speaks little in the production but communicates a lot. Mr. Lister has an uncanny ability to use reactions and silences to command his time on the stage and it is a talent not seen amongst younger performers.
Another wonderful performance is in this production is given by EMEL ERTUGRUL in the role of Elaine, who manages to play a Russian performer, a protective mother of a heroin-addicted daughter, and an obsessed nun who feels she is the “real” Pope, just to mention a few. She is by far the most energized and committed performer on this stage, never missing a beat. The rest of the cast gives great performances in a style chosen by the director which, though I may not agree with it, is consistent and fool proof.
Titanic on the other hand provides us with a play that resembles a cross between Ionesco and Beckett. Once again with outrageous characters, and standing out in this production as well is Emel Ertugrul who this time plays a young lady with a high sexual desire who likes to “store” animals “on” her position. Outside of that you spend a lot of time experiencing repletion like that found in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and never quite getting an answer.
With all that said and done, I do think if you are looking to have a fun filled evening of laugher you need to make sure you don’t miss these two productions. Congratulations to the cast and the director for creating an evening of humor and fun which I hope will be enjoyed by many.
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