A collaboration of absurdity

The theater department brings a comedic adventure to campus with Durang Durang

CAMERON KERN

Campus Life Editor

@ckernroundup

Observing extreme versions similar to ourselves can sometimes be hilarious. It also can foster an inner discussion about what we wish we were and what we hope we aren’t.

Pierce College’s latest theater production Durang Durang is a critique on the absurd nature of people and society. Directed by Anthony Cantrell, the exuberant comedy with six one-act plays runs through Dec. 9 at the Performing Arts Mainstage.

The opening sequence of the play is an aside by, the poster girl of the play, Mrs. Sorken (Laurien Allmon). Allmon’s character is witty, charming and hilariously clumsy. Mrs. Sorken gives the audience a history lesson on the role of theater in society and makes fun of the seriousness of dramatic theater productions.

Mrs. Sorken, who is found to be the aunt of the plays original writer, Christopher Durang, is used as a connecting character to the other acts, popping up as a customer in a restaurant and even a F.B.I agent. Her opening to the show was appropriately strange, comedically sound and set the foundation for what’s to come from the remaining five acts.

The second play, titled For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls, introduces a crude and easily annoyed character Amanda (Sarah Ruth Ryan), who is the mother to, Lawrence (Trevor Alkazian) an anxious teen who selfdiagnosed himself with different diseases and disabilities. Ryan plays an intense and often times relatable southern house mother who’s concerned her son is too much of a wimp and will never find a wife. Things change when Lawrence’s brother, Tom (Jon Michael Villagomez), comes to dinner and brings coworker, Ginny (Megan Milo).

Whether it was the fake limp or the collection of glass cocktail stirs, Lawrence’s dorky physicality was one of many comedic elements that worked well in this scene.

However, the high point lies in the climax of the act when Tom plans to depart from his family and never return. The lights fade and inspirational music played quietly under Tom’s monologue. As an audience member, you begin thinking the act is ending, and then the lights quickly came back up and the sound came to a screeching halt and it is found that Tom was on the porch speaking this deeply personal monologue still in view of the family.

The collaboration of the lighting and sound was exceptional throughout the play, this scene being its best example. And the seriousness of Tom made the climax amusing and worthwhile.

Nearly everything about this production seemed nonsensical in the best way possible, even down to the set design by Frederica Nascimento.

The set seems like a collection of furniture fragments from all over the world. Though underused, the backdrop was interesting and played into the absurdity of the play nicely.

Nina in the Morning is another departure from the previous topic discussed, it tells the story of an incredibly wealthy, older women, Nina (Joni Leigh), and her adventures attempting to seduce her servants and angsty teenage son, James (Tomas Ciracio).

This act, unlike the others, has a narrator (Joe Green) who not only presents the story in a monotone 3rd person form but also plays on the common trope of having the narrator play miniscule roles and remain in character throughout the scene. Narration by Green was subtle enough to give the actors enough room to hit their punchlines excellently and the overall straight faced nature of Green throughout the madness that ensues made the entire scene more pleasurable.

The exceptional sound design by Edward Salas became apparent in the preparation for the fourth play, The Book of Leviticus. As the actors

ALEXIS CANELO Reporter @alexiscanelo_

Holiday magic is coming early this year to the Art Hill.

The Pierce College Choir is hosting the Holiday Concert on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The concert will include ensembles, soloists, duets and trios.

Garineh Avakian, an instructor of music, wants to bring the community together at the Holiday Concert to celebrate the season.

“I’ve also gone to local, nearby, assisted living or senior living residences like apartment complexes and invited them to come to our concert,” ,” Avakian said. “I go to local churches or temples and I try to pitch the concert to them, so we can get the community to come on campus.” where I’m going to invite the audience to sing in with us,” Avakian said.

Avakian hopes students and community members alike enjoy the concert.

Aro Caitlin, a music major, is currently taking seven music classes.

Caitlin said the concert includes different aspects of the holidays.

“There’s a song about Hanukkah and there’s a few different languages that are going to be represented,” Caitlin said. “There are going to be various styles. We’re going to be singing a piece in German by Bach.” transition into the next act the sound began to rifle through radio feeds until it introduced the next scene as a daytime television show. What could’ve been just set up music for the following scene became a well done narrative choice.

Caitlin will be performing an original arrangement on guitar.

“I have an original arrangement of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on guitar, so I’ll be playing and singing for that song. That will be an interesting and fun experience,” Caitlin said.

Alexis Treese, a pre-med student, took part in the Holiday Concert last year.

“The Holiday Concert is usually pretty fun, because we sing a lot of different cultural music, and so that’s very interesting,” Treese said.

The Book of Leviticus, takes more of a religious turn. As a southern wife, Lettie Lu (Michelle Johnson) is persuaded by the teachings of the biblical text The Book of Leviticus to host a daytime talk show filmed by supportive husband, Tommy (Trevor Alkazian).

It’s unclear whether it was a directorial decision by Cantrell or a character choice by Johnson but the role of Lettie Lu didn’t seem cynical and villainous enough to carry out the crimes she later commits in the scene. Although it was evident Cantrell attempted to surprise the audience, the climax didn’t seem believable and the scenes intended shock fell flat.

Another unsavory portion of the play came in the fifth play, Wanda’s Visit, which tells the story of an arguably happy, normal husband and wife, Jim (Spencer Sharp) and Marsha (Michelle Johnson), who are burdened by Jim’s high school sweetheart Wanda (Meagan Truxel), who is desperate to win Jim’s love.

The high point of the act came toward its end in the restaurant scene when the Waiter (Arash Ghanavatian) makes a grand aside about his future. Although random, the monologue gave Ghanavatian room to flex his comedic abilities which shined through even in a smaller role.

Business Lunch at the Russian Tea Room proved to be the highlight of the entire production. The story follows a screenwriter, Chris (Jon Michael Villagomez) who is looking for his next big project and is introduced to a vivacious Hollywood agent Melissa Stern (Megan Milo) who tasks Chris to write on topics that will shock mainstream audiences.

“It’s an upbeat concert, let’s put it that way. It’s all catchy tunes that people usually hear around the holidays,” Avakian said.

Students have been working on the concert the entire semester.

“Students do a lot of work for preparation. We’ve been working on this all semester amongst other things we’ve gone to,” Avakian said.

Avakian will be conducting around 120 students for the concert.

“We have a combination of classical music like ranging from Sebastian Bach all the way to very contemporary pieces. We’re going to be singing acapella. We’re going to be having somewhat of a band, and the very last number on the concert is kid of like a holiday medley

[TOY DRIVE FROM PAGE 1]

Having brought them thousands of dollars worth of toys, HRE Wheels, has sponsored Motor4Toys for 10 years.

Brand Marketer, Jorge Martinez, said HRE Wheels and Troyan have known each other for years. Through their relationship, HRE Wheels tries to get invested in any sort of charity event that Troyan has.

“It’s nice to do this,” said Martinez. “We don’t see enough of this in the automotive community. To take part in something like this is important.”

He relates as a normal person who works like everyone else and is given the opportunity to give back.

Jeremiah Reyes, an English major, is part of the music 501 class. Reyes is excited to perform.

“I’m starting to love it as well— great music, really gets into the holiday spirit,” Reyes said.

Avakian tries to make each concert different than the next.

“Every year’s very different from each other. Everybody will be wearing their choir shirts, they’ll be in jeans with like Christmas hats and you know elf ears. I’m letting them kind of wear whatever they want,” Avakian said. Tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door for $10. Avakian recommends purchasing tickets online to avoid delaying the start time of the concert.

“I have no idea what I’m doing, that’s the truth,” says Troyan. “I just keep calling. People pat me on the back and say ‘oh you’re the guy’, but I’m not the guy. It’s all of us.”

Near freezing weather or a long days at work hasn’t hindered Troyan’s attitude. He does it all with the help of others that want to give back too.

“This is all love,” said Troyan. “All the volunteers do it from the goodness of their hearts. I don’t have a volunteer list, people just show up.”