Bogosian rises theater go-ers

by Lisa Nicole Finegan and Jessi Snow staff writer and sports editor

One night, one show, one man, one incredible experience. Eric Bogosian, the author of last fall's theater department production, "subUrbia," wrote and stars in "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee." This 95 minute piece is a series of inter connected monologues on "making it to the top of tqe ladder, falling off the ladder and the exhilarating thrill of the ultimate crash and burnt accordiJ:igto the performer's website.

On the regal, wooded Bryn Mawr College campus, inside an old church that has been converted into a theater in soft, but small, unsteady seats over one hundred people sat, gazing upon an empty black stage, when the lights dimmed and an old friend began to chat about life. From the moment that Eric Bogosian appears on stage, the entire audience is suddenly captivated and fixed on his every world. It appears as if the performer has decided that this night of his 12-college tour with "Wake Up and Smell The Coffee" will be different. It seems as though Bogosian is pissed about sex, religion, politics, the apathy of the general population and so many other things. So mad that he will not be performing tonight, but ranting about these issues with his audience, his confidant, maybe the last sane soul in the universe. Slowly Bogosian's monologues merge into different characters, and a diverse group presents life in the information age, each character made real by one man.

Bogosian has been stirring up audiences with performances like Bryn Mawr's Friday, Sept. 8 presentation of "Wake Up And Smell the Coffee" for many years. His many other one-man shows include "FunHouse," "Men Inside," "Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll" and "Pounding Nails In The Floor With My Forehead." Bogosian has also writen successfull plays and screenplays, and has appeared in movies.

Last year's production of "subUrbia" at Cabrini was not only incredibly successful, but also had a large impact on many of the people at the sold-out shows. Bogosian's characters in the 1994 play were believable and interesting, due to both the author's talent and the execution by the performers. Students were able to empathize with the characters and draw comparisons to their own lives.

"I write my plays to create an excuse for fulltilt acting and performing. I provide the bricks and mortar with the words and situations - the director and the actors and the designers build the house," Bogosian said.

"Wake Up And Smell The Coffee" is set to become the next of Bogosian's works to rock both the theater world and the world outside of it.

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