Throughout the weekend before Thanksgiving, West Chester University theater students performed the annual student-written one acts. This year’s show was called “Where the One Acts Are,” inspired by Maurice Sendak’s book and the uncertainty of where the show would be held.Typically held in the E.O. Bull Center, the one acts are an extension of the playwriting workshop class taught by Professor Harvey Rovine of the theater department.
Because the E.O. Bull Center has been closed for renovations this semester, the five weekend performances were held in the theater of Brandywine Hall.
The one acts that are performed at this annual show are selected by a panel of theater professors, including Rovine. The acts are worked on throughout the semester and are written to be around 10 minutes long.
“The plays are selected on the basis on which are the most ‘finished,’ although all of us agree none of them are entirely finished.” Rovine said.
“That is, the playwrights selected continue to work on their plays over the summer and once directors are assigned, the playwrights may still revise their work.”
Though the assignment is given a designated run time, certain acts become much longer when fleshed out with directors, actors and sets.
“There have been years when we have selected only four plays because the plays selected were all longer, and therefore six would have been too many,” Rovine said.
“By the way, six is not a fixed number. We look for quality, not quantity.”
This year’s one-acts featured six plays, five of which were comedies.
Syndicated Obsession:
by Caroline Schneider, directed by Clara Hittel.
Two elderly gentlemen take in their TV-show goddess, Vanna White, after her car breaks down. Throughout the act, the old men fight over her as she downs Scotch, before being dressed as a life-size mannequin as the duo watch “Wheel of Fortune.”
Lurking:
by Andrea Rumble, directed by Jackie Read.
A 33-year-old finally visits the gynecologist, and becomes terrified at the numerous diagrams and cooking utensils she sees in the doctor’s office. A fiesty nurse toys with patient after she proves difficult.
Crappy Holidays:
by Pete Collier, directed by Caroline Schneider.
A dysfunctional family taken to the extreme attempts to have a nice Christmas breakfast. After a complicated web of fights among the family members, the lights fade after the beloved narcoleptic grandfather is discovered to be “asleep” for another reason entirely.
Dr. Z and the Missing #3:
by Ben Levan, directed by Ian Potter.
A Zorro-like Dr. Z. erases the number “3” from existence, while the scientist J and beauty K attempt to fight their own awkwardness to be together. Dr. Z returns to solve the equation of love with a clever use of the texting heart, “<3." Return to Sender: by Jackie Read, directed by Christine Jackson. Tilly’s use of catharsis through sending angry letters to random people seemingly blows up in her face when one recipient confronts her. Both end up making small epiphanies of their own through their conversation with each other. The Grand Tranny Stand: by Don Rider, directed by Jackie Chilcote. Modern-day Cinderella and Snow White face a flat tire on their way to Prince Charming’s house party. They find aid and friendship in three transvestites who’ve opened up a stand with pink lemonade and designer clothes. Tara Tanzos is a third-year student majoring in English and minoring in creative writing. She can be reached at TT649875@wcupa.edu.