Theater Review: ʻIndependenceʼ Play Pierce College eater Department presents play by Lee Blessing, directed by Anita Adcock

The Pierce College Theater Department is deftly tackling an emotionally taxing relationship between a mother and her three daughters in playwright Lee Blessing’s “Independence,” which opened May 2 and will continue May 9 through 11.

The production, directed by Anita Adcock, stars Stephanie Alkazian, Elyse Hamilton and Sadé Reid as the oldest, middle and youngest daughters respectively. Leah Foster takes on the role of the mother who Foster proficiently balances between manipulative and sympathetic.

The play takes place in Independence, a small town in Iowa, and deals with issues of lingering resentment from a troubled past, abandonment and the caring for a parent. While the major tone of the play is a somber one, bits of humor are refreshingly sprinkled throughout without taking away from the seriousness

Weekly Concert: Cultural music performed

Dimitris Mahlis and Chris Wabich, better known as the duo Wahid, performed for an audience of more than 100 people in the music recital room on Thursday, May 1, providing a variety of original Middle Eastern melodies using an oud and frame drum.

The two-man group has been collaborating for 15 years, using their ancient instruments to convey the styles of Greek, Persian and Arabic tradition and culture with their own contemporary sound.

Music Adjunct James Bergman was delighted to have the revered group perform at this week’s concert, noting that the group brings their own type of diverse and particular sound which sticks to its roots while bringing their own signature elegance.

“Today, we have something a little different. Wahid’s music is Middle Eastern based,” Bergman said. “It’s a mix of a lot of different styles.”

With Mahlis on the oud and Wabich manning the frame drum, Wahid’s style of music can be compared to that of music played in the courts of Arabic and Egyptian royalty for sultans and pharaohs, or the laid-back olden compositions born of tradition from Middle that is carefully built. The performance leaves one wondering if this family can truly repair their fragile relationship and how damaging their dynamic can be before someone ultimately decides that it is no longer worth trying.

Alkazian, in the role of the eldest sister, sees herself as an anchor for the family almost taking on the mother role as the story goes on. She and Reid, as the boisterous youngest sister, provide the polar opposite products of the environment in which they were raised and the two actresses deliver an adversarial chemistry that fuels the overall tension for the family.

Hamilton acts as the mediator between the siblings and their mother. With the eldest daughter out of the house and the youngest itching to leave, Foster’s character latches onto her middle child.

Foster portrays many expressions but subtly reveals that fear is the primary motivator for her actions.

This mother is afraid of being alone and resorts to some disturbing behavior to keep Hamilton’s character at home. Hamilton remains timid and submissive even when she decides she’s had enough. Again, fear appears to be the character’s main motivation.

The fear of losing her daughters causes this mother to manufacture closeness with her family, rather than allowing it to grow organically. While the entire play takes place in the family’s home, the content is engaging enough to hold the audience’s attention and indeed the house itself almost becomes the fifth member of the family. Just like each of the women have a varied relationship with each other, so too do they have a different connection with the house. The set is well designed, giving the illusion of separate rooms and floors and acts as a safe haven or cage.

“Independence” will continue May 9 with shows beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 dollars with tickets for students and seniors priced at $12. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling 818719-6488 and by visiting www. brownpapertickets.com.

Students Enroll In ‘Fun’ Classes

Pierce extension o ers additional education

to Pierce Extension Director Cindy Chang.

Eastern cultures.

Percussionist Wabich has recorded music with the likes of Sheila E., Ludacris, and Sting, just to name a few, and is well-known for his dramatic flair displayed through his precise hand speed and amazing dexterity.

“Today, I will be playing the frame set, one of the oldest drum sets to exist,” Wabich said. “It’s tuned to a certain pitch unlike other drum sets. The sound is unique to our style.”

Playing five original songs, “Looking for Paradisi,” “Alexander’s Regret,” “Sunlight,” “Protofolia” and “Airlift,” Mahlis described why he decided to play these specific songs for the audience.

“These are the pieces we’ve been touring with,” Mahlis said. “These specific pieces take the listener on a journey.”

With multiple pedals connected to an amplifier, Mahlis uses both the manipulation of instrument and technology to create a sound that’s signature to Middle Eastern music.

Wabich’s drumming completed Mahlis’ style of extreme-paced groves with electric tempos, sometimes playing with both hands, or using only one drum stick for accented cymbal notes while simultaneously using his free hand to traverse the rest of his framed drum set.

Using a modified version of the original frame drums, Wabich explained how his instrument has transformed over the years due to advances in resource from universal use.

“The early Frame drums were made with rope and animal skin,” Wabich said. “They’re very nontraditional when compared to their original structures.”

For a deeper look into Wahid’s music and philosophies, visit www. WahidMusic.com where visitors can listen and purchase Wahid’s music.

For next week’s Concert at Pierce event, violinist Ji Young An will perform in the music recital room on Thursday, May 8.

With courses including MakeUp Artistry and Dog Knowledge, Care, and Obedience Training, the Pierce Extension program offers many different types of classes for the community to participate in.

Most of the classes the Extension Program offers take place on campus, have their own room locations and they each have their own registration costs according

“We offer educational opportunities for personal or professional development, skill improvement, upgrading cultural enrichment and recreational enjoyment,” Chang said.

People can take classes on fine art, crafting, dance, computers, exercise and classes that are for older adults according to Chang.

“All they have to do is go online or come on in, we can register them, they pay the fee and they go to

Csun Summer Session

Summer 2014 Forecast: class,” Chang said. “Classes are not academic equivalent so there are no grades, units or anything like that.”

One of the courses offered by the Pierce Extension is called South West Aquatic Master, also known as SWAM, which is a competitive swim team that does training for competitions, stroke work, kicking drills and gets about 3000 yards of swimming in each class, said SWAM Coach Deborah Hefter.

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Brainstorms EXPECTED –May through August

summer Session 1

MAY 27–AUGUST 19 (12 weeks) summer Session 2 summer Session 3

MAY 27–JULY 8 (6 weeks)

JULY 9–AUGUST 19 (6 weeks)

With a deluge of university credit courses to choose from, CSUN Summer Session can help you

 Accelerate your progress toward a degree,

 Advance your career, or

ONLINE

APRIL 2 http://summer.csun.edu

 Soak up new knowledge for the sheer delight of it.

Whatever your academic goals, chances are you’ll find a class within the wide selection of courses offered—many of which are now available online.