Laughter, lessons
Night of David Ives One- Act Plays sheds light on human condition.
Each fall, the members of the UPEI Theatre Society mounts a different collection of one- act plays to entertain and educate their growing fan base.
In 2011, they presented three works by Anton Checkhov. In 2012, they explored the dark side with Smitten and The Actor’s Nightmare.
This year, they are lightening the mood somewhat with three comedies by a contemporary American playwright, David Ives.
“We were inspired to consider Ives after society members saw his play, Sure Thing, at the P. E. I. Community Theatre Festival last year. It was funny. It was exciting,” says Justin Shaw, producer of Bam! A Night of David Ives One- Act Plays.
That excitement grew when society member Ben Hartley obtained the playwright’s book of one- act plays and Shaw started reading it.
He couldn’t put it down. And, after finding a play he really liked, he shared the book with two other friends. Then they got excited. “Now each of us is directing a David Ives play. We are eager to share his ideas with the audience,” says Shaw of the show that hits the boards of the faculty lounge in the UPEI Main Building, Nov. 14- 16, 7: 30 p. m.
Toni Timmins is the director of English Made Simple. Featuring Malachi Rowswell, Brynn Cutcliffe and Keir Malone, it’s a romantic comedy about two lovers attempting to start a relationship while trying to say what they mean and mean what they say.
It appeals to her for several reasons.
“As an English major, I love the wordplay. Also, the script is really nicely contained. So there’s a lot of funny things I can do with the play structure,” says Timmins.
Shaw is the director of Variations on the Death of Trotsky. This play examines the peculiar sequence of events that led to the death of the Russian political theorist.
“Trotsky died from a mountain climber’s axe being smashed into the
back of his head. It was a very bizarre way to die. But what’s even more bizarre is that he actually lived for an entire day after the incident occurred,” says Shaw.
In this play, Ives takes a comedic slant on this incident by recreating his death eight different ways.
“It’s a dark comedy. Audience members are likely going to laugh at someone dying. They will also be exposed to a number of the realities that occurred with the nature of his death. This is a man who spent a lot of his life working. He fled his own home so he could work more,” says Shaw, noting the play stars Cameron MacDonald, Alexandra Durant and Keir Malone.
Courtney Starkman directs The Universal Language, a play about absurdity.
“The thing that appealed to me is the connection that can be established between people without language. That’s because much of the play is in gibberish.
“( Much like Mr. Bean), communication is done through body language and intonation, the way things are said rather than the actual words that are being said. It’s funny,” says S t a r k m a n , adding the play features Robert Crossley and Lana Mill.
In the end, the producer hopes the night of one- act plays will bring audience members more than comic relief.
“While his work is primarily comedic, Ives’ plays brings to light some of the more thoughtful qualities of the human condition: The desire to find love, to understand life and to communicate with the world,” says Shaw.
“And, as UPEI Theatre Society members, we’re excited about sharing these themes with the public.”