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Not a 'standard' production
By Derek Sullivan
Published:
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Media Credit: Ryan Henry
Stephen Wheeler, played by Brian Chmiel, and Drew Paley, portrayed by Benjamin Rothaus perform the play "Eastern Standard" Wednesday night at the Performing Arts Center. The play was sponsored by the Department of Theater, Film Studies, and Dance.
In Richard Greenburg's comedic play, two couples are brought together by chance. One couple is straight and one is gay.
"You can't tell the couples apart," said Brain Chmiel, who portrays the part of Stephen Wheeler. "They have the same problems any couple would have."
That is just one of the issues discussed in "Eastern Standard," the first production of the year for SCSU's Theater Department.
Eastern Standard was written in 1989, and had a successful run at New York's famed Manhattan Theatre Club, and eventually on Broadway. It traces a group of somewhat cynical young professionals as they move from disillusionment to a more hopeful outlook on their futures.
The play takes place in the late 1980s at a trendy Manhattan Restaurant. Stephen (Chmiel) is having lunch with his good friend Drew (Ben Rothaus). Drew is an artist on the rise.
While Stephen and Drew are having lunch, Stephen eyes a local stockbroker named Phoebe (LaTasha Hamann). Stephen is in love with Phoebe and so far the love is not being returned. Phoebe is having lunch with her Brother Peter (Jonathan Isenor), a television executive.
A homeless woman named May shows up at the restaurant and through unbelievable antics draws the foursome together.
The four characters eventually strike up a friendship. This group will eventually end up at Stephen's summer home on Long Island, joined by May (Tracy Bergsholm) and an actress/waitress named Ellen (McKenzie Ristau).
The six characters discuss city life, relationships, non-relationships, plans for the future and the mistakes of the past. While the topics seem heady, there is lots of humor in "Eastern Standard."
"The author - Richard Greenberg - has the ability to be very moving and funny at the same time," director Bruce Hyde said.
"Eastern Standard" is Greenberg's first Broadway success. After the play initial run at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the play was moved to the John Golden Theatre on Broadway in 1989.
"The play works because it is clever," Hyde said. "It is a realistic look at relationships."
Greenberg has since written several successful plays including "Three Days of Rain" (1998), which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist.
His 2003 work "Take Me Out" also was a nominee for the Pulitzer Prize. "Take Me Out" would take home the prestigious Tony Award for Best Play.
His follow-up to "Take Me Out" was "The Violet Hour," which will open on Broadway in late 2003.
"Eastern Standard" has a small cast of only six actors. The part of Stephen is played by Pre-Chiropractic Student Brian Chmiel. Even though this is Chmiel's fifth performance in a play, he wants acting to stay a hobby.
"Everything in my classes is sterile and intense," Chmiel said. "Acting gives me a chance to wind down and relax."
The play's original lighting technique requires a large and effective artistic staff. Nineteen people have worked diligently on such tasks ranging from Stage Manager to Audio Designer to running the box office.
"I am really impressed with the work the cast and staff have done," Hyde said. "Several actors are acting for the first time. Everyone in this cast performed like natural actors."
While Dr. Bruce Hyde is not performing in the play, he can offer some real world experience. Hyde recently performed "Death of a Salesman" to rave reviews in the Twin Cities.
The play is being held at the Performing Arts Center Arena Stage. The Arena Stage is a very intimate setting, with around one hundred seats. A playgoer would never be more than eight feet from the actors.
"It makes it a lot more personal. You are always making eye contact," Jonathan Isenor said.
"It is the first play I have been in where I can whisper and the audience can hear."
'Eastern Standard'
The play runs through Sunday, Oct. 26 at the Performing Arts Center Arena Stage. Shows Thursday through Saturday will be at 8 p.m. Sunday's matinee will be at 2 p.m. The performance is free with a student ID.
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