‘Seminar’ offers profound and comical perspectives
Theresa Rebeck is a prestigious playwright with extensive experience in television and movies. She understands the literary process and its contributors.
Writers must be empathetic in order to create the personalities readers or an audience can enjoy. Rebeck’s “Seminar” is a play about writers, and she reveals the conflicts and angst among them with wit, as well as admirable character creation.
“Seminar,” a BIGNOSE Production, presented at Shakespeare on the Paseo, also requires a director and actors who understand the writing processes and perspectives. “Seminar” contains adult language and situations, exactly what one would expect from a group of writers.
Director Linda McDonald is accomplished not only as a director but also as an actress and writer. Well known in Oklahoma City theater circles, McDonald also boasts several successful novels. She directs her cast with perfect understanding to reveal their characters to the audience.
In the play, four aspiring writers are attending a seminar under the guidance and expertise of an established author and editor. They have each paid $5,000 to participate in the 10-week practicum to have their work critiqued by an expert, enabling them to improve their skills and become successful, as well.
One of the writers graciously hosts her fellow writers and their mentor in her apartment. As a group they quickly discover that their instructor is extremely blunt and often cruel in his assessment of their pages. Egos shatter, personalities conflict and objective criticism is lost. Even unique writers confuse love and sex like everyone else, so hormones, as well as disharmony, rule and rue the day.
Ben Hall is perhaps best known for his superb sets and his directing. Here, he takes the stage as the experienced author and instructor without a soul, Leonard. His performance is chilling, but the hint of smirk or possible smile lurks about his lips giving away his “The Seminar” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Shakespeare on the Paseo, 2920 Paseo
www.bignoseproduction. org or 226-9595 humanity.
Emily Etherton is Kate, a young lady from the upper middle class with decidedly feminist leanings. Etherton is a strong actress and has appeared on many stages throughout Oklahoma City. Etherton brings excitement and class to the role of Kate; as always, a pleasure to watch.
David Mays as Douglas creates a perfect facade — the pompous self-absorbed jerk. The facade will crack, as they always do, and Mays expertly reveals the insecurities Douglas has as a writer and a single man. He tries to impress his colleagues, especially the ladies, with his verbal gymnastics and succeeds only in giving them a chuckle.
Kevin Moore is Martin, whose desire to be a successful writer is in conflict with his fear of showing his work. He is equally confused about love and sex. He is a man with the talent to be successful, but success may elude him as he carefully places obstacles in his own path. Moore straddles the two sides of Martin with sensitivity and a certain dollop of charm.
Jennifer Farley is Izzy. Izzy is very attractive, and Farley succeeds in showing her primary flaw and greatest barrier to success. Izzy has “pretty girl syndrome,” the belief that men appreciate her sexual attributes more than her intellectual attributes, and she conducts herself accordingly.
Under McDonald’s superior skill in directing, these five actors create an evening no writer should miss. They give Farley’s story substance and take advantage of her wit to make “Seminar” entertaining, thought-provoking, funny and fruitful.
“Seminar” has one weekend remaining, ending the run on Saturday. There is limited seating at the Paseo location, so plan ahead.