As I waited in the lobby of Mateer Hall for the Ten Minute Plays to begin, I couldn’t ignore the electricity in the air. Packed like sardines and brimming with buzz, the audience exclaimed cries of anxious anticipation and thrill regarding the upcoming events. Thankfully, before the mob began to riot, the doors were opened and we streamed into our seats.
The theater scene at Wooster has become increasingly vibrant in recent years; it was only three years ago that there were just two annual productions. Today, there are close to seven productions per year, at least four of which are presented by student theatre groups, and all of which are completely sold-out.
Resurrected by the vivacious and determined Yassi Davoodi ’11, Effie’s Players puts on three shows a year, including one full-length play, a set of 24-hour plays (where students gather to write, direct and perform 5 plays within 24 hours) and last Friday’s Ten Minute Plays. The group sponsored† five student-directed one-acts including “Herbie Holiday Hits a Homer,” “Amicable Painting,” “Mime in a Box,” “Sure Thing” and “Elvis of Nazareth.”
The majority of the plays offered a great deal of laughs, the acting was fairly strong and the scripts were charming and unreserved ó but ultimately the inexperience of the directors overshadowed the material.
“Amicable Painting” showed some serious potential for greatness with biting, zinger-rich dialogue with an unusually tense premise for a one-act (a divorced couple dividing their things) and talented leads.
However, the subtext of the script was completely lost through uninteresting, prosaic blocking ó what should have been a story about a couple’s reconnection was merely a soap opera with an ending that seemed to come completely out of the blue. Another notable performance was from Nana Boamah ’11 in “Mime in a Box.” Obviously Boamah is a gifted dancer and has a commanding presence. However, due to a lack of focus, I missed out on many of his brilliant bits.
The real standout of the night was David Ives’ “Sure Thing,”† directed by Kate Schiller ’13. “Sure Thing” was originally written for only two actors, but in a brilliant twist, Schiller added another couple.
The plot is centered around the two couples who meet in a coffee shop. A bell was placed in the center of each table which the actors must ring every time the conversation goes fatally south. The actors were all excellent, but the impeccable comedic timing of Ryan McCormack ’14 was the crowning jewel of this play and of the evening. This, along with the debaucherous comedic stylings of Ives, was the perfect formula for a fantastic 10 minute play.
Overall, I had great fun. The environment surrounding the Ten Minute Plays is what makes it truly unique: it’s casual, friendly and something great to do on a Friday night.