[NEohioPAL]Personal Review of Kent State Stark's ART

Sun Sep 8 00:33:15 PDT 2002

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       When I leave after seeing a community theatre production, rarely do I 
go with a sense of satisfaction. The same goes for college productions, and 
of both types I have seen horrible and fantastic productions, some with 
friends performing, others thats' cast I didn't know a soul from. 
       This past Friday I was able to go see Kent State Stark's Production of 
ART, and let me tell you, I am still elated. Even though I know two-thirds of 
the cast, when the show started, I forgot that two of the actors where even 
people I knew, let alone friends. I now only knew them as Marc and Yvan (Greg 
Emannuelson and Rod Lang). That's how believable they were, and it has 
nothing to do with acting. It has to do with trust. From the audience you 
could feel an immense amount of trust flowing between the three actors. They 
played off of each other and they acted together as a cast instead of as 
three individual actors. 
       Greg Emannuelson plays Marc, and completely plays the antagonizing 
character with great use of sarcasm with a smile. Throughout the production 
Emannuelson displayed a great amount of range, playing a character who has to 
try to learn how to cope with a friend whom he thinks has gone from eccentric 
to mad. 
       Barry Wakser plays Serge, the man who buys a 5x4 white painting for 
200,000 francs (around $57,000, i think). He played his character very 
convincingly, but what stands out are his covering skills. At the end of the 
production, during one of Serge's monologues, the painting that caused the 
feud, started to lean to one side in slow motion, and eventually fell off the 
wall. To an untrained actor, this simple action could keep the actor from 
ever letting himself set foot on stage again, but Wakser covered for the 
painting with ease and skill, making even myself think... "hmm...was that 
supposed to happen or not?" 
       The part of Yvan is played by Rod Lang, a resident of New 
Philadelphia. He magnificently plays the "buffoon" character of the show who 
doesn't seem capable to make a decision of his own. Lang received a lengthy 
round of applause after an extremely long and quickly paced monologue, as 
well as bringing several audience members to tears of laughter. 
       The setting and lights, both designed by Louis Williams, resident 
Technical Director of Kent Stark's Theatre, are simple yet effective. It 
creates an atmosphere of a blank slate. You have no idea what the characters 
are like due to the setting, you have to pay attention and figure it out. 
Susan Blurton created the costume design, and her choices match the 
characters. 
       ART is directed by Phillip L. Robb, the resident Artistic Director of 
Kent Stark's Theatre, and an associate professor of theatre at Kent State 
Stark. He helped his cast bring out the best in themselves. A fine job, and 
an impressive start to his season, which includes WHEN YOU COMIN BACK, RED 
RYDER?, THE SECRET GARDEN, and THE LARAMIE PROJECT.
       I could go on forever about the three actors of the show, but what is 
most impressive is how they work together. The characters have respect for 
each other and so do the actors. This play is about friendship and the trust 
that comes with it. These three actors have completely grasped and understood 
that meaning. 
       Go see ART. You will enjoy it.

Call (330) 244-3348 for tickets and directions, Monday-Friday, 1-5PM.
Run continues today (Sunday) at 2:30 PM and next Thursday through Saturday at 
8PM and Sunday at 2:30 PM. 
Kent Stark is located in Jackson Twp., 5 minutes from Canton.

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<HTML>       When I leave after seeing a community theatre production, rarely do I go with a sense of satisfaction. The same goes for college productions, and of both types I have seen horrible and fantastic productions, some with friends performing, others thats' cast I didn't know a soul from. 
       This past Friday I was able to go see Kent State Stark's Production of ART, and let me tell you, I am still elated. Even though I know two-thirds of the cast, when the show started, I forgot that two of the actors where even people I knew, let alone friends. I now only knew them as Marc and Yvan (Greg Emannuelson and Rod Lang). That's how believable they were, and it has nothing to do with acting. It has to do with trust. From the audience you could feel an immense amount of trust flowing between the three actors. They played off of each other and they acted together as a cast instead of as three individual actors. 
       Greg Emannuelson plays Marc, and completely plays the antagonizing character with great use of sarcasm with a smile. Throughout the production Emannuelson displayed a great amount of range, playing a character who has to try to learn how to cope with a friend whom he thinks has gone from eccentric to mad. 
       Barry Wakser plays Serge, the man who buys a 5x4 white painting for 200,000 francs (around $57,000, i think). He played his character very convincingly, but what stands out are his covering skills. At the end of the production, during one of Serge's monologues, the painting that caused the feud, started to lean to one side in slow motion, and eventually fell off the wall. To an untrained actor, this simple action could keep the actor from ever letting himself set foot on stage again, but Wakser covered for the painting with ease and skill, making even myself think... "hmm...was that supposed to happen or not?" 
       The part of Yvan is played by Rod Lang, a resident of New Philadelphia. He magnificently plays the "buffoon" character of the show who doesn't seem capable to make a decision of his own. Lang received a lengthy round of applause after an extremely long and quickly paced monologue, as well as bringing several audience members to tears of laughter. 
       The setting and lights, both designed by Louis Williams, resident Technical Director of Kent Stark's Theatre, are simple yet effective. It creates an atmosphere of a blank slate. You have no idea what the characters are like due to the setting, you have to pay attention and figure it out. Susan Blurton created the costume design, and her choices match the characters. 
       ART is directed by Phillip L. Robb, the resident Artistic Director of Kent Stark's Theatre, and an associate professor of theatre at Kent State Stark. He helped his cast bring out the best in themselves. A fine job, and an impressive start to his season, which includes WHEN YOU COMIN BACK, RED RYDER?, THE SECRET GARDEN, and THE LARAMIE PROJECT. 
       I could go on forever about the three actors of the show, but what is most impressive is how they work together. The characters have respect for each other and so do the actors. This play is about friendship and the trust that comes with it. These three actors have completely grasped and understood that meaning. 
       Go see ART. You will enjoy it. 
 
Call (330) 244-3348 for tickets and directions, Monday-Friday, 1-5PM. 
Run continues today (Sunday) at 2:30 PM and next Thursday through Saturday at 8PM and Sunday at 2:30 PM. 
Kent Stark is located in Jackson Twp., 5 minutes from Canton.</HTML>

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