Philly’s theater of the absurd

el Beckett and “Frenzy for Two, or More” by Eugène Ionesco.

Garrett masterfully owns the spotlight in “Wanda’s Visit,” a laugh-out-loud comedy about Jim (Bob Schmidt) and Marsha (Corinna Burns), a couple married 13 years with little excitement until Wanda, Jim’s high school sweetheart, comes to town. Garrett was in a league of her own as she controlled the stage leaving the audience desperately seeking more of her. The performance ends in a heated escalation leaving Jim to say, “Wanda’s visit helped stir us up in a good way.” Only to have Marsha add, “Now if only we were happy.”

In “Ohio Impromptu,” Michael and Tomas Dura powerfully possess the stage performing the unique Beckett script. The two actors sit at a table dressed in vintage black robes. As Michael Dura reads from a book, Thomas Dura pounds the table with his fist. In the end Dura reads, “Nothing is left to tell,” leading the audience to ponder the deeper meaning.

CAP Board presents the Drew Davis Band on Thursday, Feb. 28 in the Marketplace. Country fans are invited to wear their best cowboy hat and shine their boots and celebrate at 6 p.m. For more information about this event contact Anne Filippone at 610-902-8407.

Teacher Torture

Selected professors and faculty have accepted a challenge by the senior class to do something Extraordinarily Embarrassing. From March 10 - 13 between 12-2 p.m. in Jazzmans the class of 2008 invites students to vote for the professor or faculty member whose embarrassing act you would most like to see. The professor or faculty member with the most money raised will perform activity that he/ she has agreed to. The class of 2008 is raising money to fund the construction of the kitchen in a Habitat for Humanity project in nearby Norristown. For more information email SeniorGift2008@gmail.com.

Presidential Search Open Forum

A beautiful woman gracefully slides her hand across the black tabletop. Feeling a gentle caress a man turns his head from the brilliantly lit red stage. A smile spreads across his face as he leans into her body. His lips touch hers. Their connection brings warmth to the dimly lit room.

Throughout the night great passion was seen on and off the stage at the Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium.

The what?

The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium is the title of South Philadelphia’s theater of the absurd. The production stars Cabrini College acting professor, Gerre Garrett, in three short plays concerning the absurdity of love and loss.

“I think anything that gets you out and into the city is a great thing. This type of theater is rarely done. It’s in a funky space and there is no other theater company doing theater of the absurd,” Garrett said.

The show runs from Feb. 17-28 at the L’Étage Cabaret at Sixth and Bainbridge streets just seconds from Philadelphia’s infamous South Street.

Directed by Tina Brock, a long-time native to the Philadelphia theater circuit, the show features “Wanda’s Visit” by Christopher Durang, “Ohio Impromptu” by Samu-

Perhaps the most absurd of all three performances is the Ionesco act. An unhappily married couple played by Corinna Burns and Brian Adoff hilariously controls the stage as they verbally fight back and forth about their relationship and the sticky situation they find themselves in. Burns and Adoff showcased amazing chemistry in their breathtaking performance. Garrett pleased the crowd by appearing as the neighbor’s wife in the end of the show.

The theater provides the audience with an intimate setting as the 75-minute show runs. Chemistry between each of the actors was very strong throughout the three performances.

“The theater community in Philadelphia is big enough to be fun but small enough to feel a strong sense of family, similar to Cabrini,” Garrett said.

Placing his arm around her shoulder the lovers walk towards the exit. The lights flash off. Yet another night has passed.

Cabrini students, faculty and staff are all welcome to meet with Cabrini presidential candidate Marie George on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. in the Dixon Center. George will also be speaking on Friday, Feb. 29 at 10 a.m. in the Widener Lecture Hall at 11 a.m. in the Set Lecture Hall and at 3 p.m. in Founder’s Hall room 351. A reception will follow the forum and there is no need for an RSVP. For more information please contact Lisa Shimada at 610-902-8206.

Black Cinema Night

The Black Student union is having a screening of Stomp the Yard on Friday, Feb. 29. Check out the event and make it the last hurrah before Spring Break! The showing starts at 8 p.m. in the Widener lecture Hall. For more information on this event contact Lisa Mills at Lkm723@cabrini.edu