[NEohioPAL] Lake Erie College production

[Bob Abelman]

Lake Erie students get 'Loop'-y

 

Bob Abelman

News-Herald, Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times Courier

Member, International Association of Theatre Critics 

 

This preview appeared in the News-Herald 3/31/09

 

When the powers-that-be at Lake Erie College hired Assistant Professor of Theater Jerry Jaffe a few months ago, they knew they were getting a performer and director with international experience.  They knew they were getting an innovative educator.

 

Did they know they were getting a creative renegade?  

 

"Oh, sure," says Jaffe.  "I was brought in to survey all the wonderful theater being offered in the area. and do something unique."

 

Something "unique" does not quite do justice to what he has in store for the spring production of Theatre is a Strange Loop, which opens quite appropriately on April Fool's Day.

 

"In fact," he admits, "it is flat out weird and unpredictable."

 

Having taught and directed in New Zealand and Japan for over 10 years, the Toledo-born Jaffe has explored many innovative and experimental theatrical forms.  Theatre is a Strange Loop is the poster child.  There is no script. There is no story.  There are no characters.  Instead, on the first day of rehearsal, Jaffe introduced to his team of subjects. uh, students, a concept and asked them to experiment by developing moments that somehow embraced or incorporated that concept.  Over a nine week period, these five lab rats. uh, actors played with ideas, formulated dramatic scenes, and loosely devised an original production.

 

When the dust settled, Joseph Fath, Tricia Lilliman, Brian Schweikert, Stephanie Kilper and Jenn Vladic created a roughly 75 minute, one-act collection of 15 scenes that explore the creative enterprise of doing theater itself.  This interesting composite of part-play and part-improvisation will continue to be a work-in-progress, changing based on the continuous loop of audience reaction, actor interaction and whatever happens in the spur of the moment.  

 

Each of the five performances will be unique and, promises Jaffe, "very innovative and enjoyable.  Live performance is dynamic.  My hope is that this will be fun for the students and very original and entertaining for the audience."

 

The technical director and stage manager for the show is Lake Erie College alumna Julie Harter, and the lights are being designed by Michael Boll.

 

Jaffe was a senior lecturer in theatre studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.  While living in Japan, he taught at Tsukuba University and acted on tour with Japan's largest professional children's theatre group.  In the United States, he directed at regional and university theatres including Bowling Green State University.  There he directed several devised pieces similar to but quite different from his current offering on the Lake Erie College campus.  

 

Is Painesville ready for devised theater?

 

 "Yes," suggests Jaffe.  "This kind of theatre will give experienced and inexperienced theater-goers something different from what they would expect.  I want to give people something to think about and something to talk about."

 

This should do it.

 

Details

 

What:              Theatre is a Strange Loop.

When:              April 1 through 4 at 7:30pm, April 5 at 2:00pm. 

Where:            C.K. Rickel Theatre located in the Fine Arts Building on the Lake Erie College

                         campus, Painesville.

Tickets:           $5 for general admission.

Info:                 440-375-7450.
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