One Acts, Many Dimensions

It is an evening of one act plays, but you see at least twice as many shows for the price of three.

DANA CENTER — One acts are known for challenging the dimensions of space and time -- twenty minutes is short for a logical beginning, middle, and end -- but the Abbey Players evening of short plays, “Time Flies When You’re Having Fun,” challenges the traditional continuum at a new level.

The plays run Friday and Saturday nights, both at 7:30 p.m. Student admission is $5.75, including a ticketing fee.

This Is A Test, by Stephen Gregg and directed by Katie McNamara ’10, condenses an hour-long collegiate exam into twenty minutes, all while visiting dreams, A cruel world of high school-like taunting, and deep-seated fears. Alan (Brian Lively ’10) is tested not only by the multiple-choice and essay assessment before him, but by the blatant cheating of his classmates (including Lois, played by Caitlin Heneghan ’11) and the unfriendly voices in his own caffeinated and overtired head.

Ham Radio, adapted and directed by Alex Silveri ’11, explores the challenge of airing a live radio drama. From the first rehearsal through the ninth, the motley crew, including radio host Frasier Crane (Seath Crandall ’10), his brother Niles, and producer Roz (Kaitlin Smith ’11), competes for airtime and attention -- both against each other, and against the odds. Ham Radio marks the evening’s brief departure from the festival of existential questions.

Cut, by Ed Monk and directed by Robert Lemire ’10, looks for answers to actors’ most persistent questions: where does the stage start, where does it end, and who is really in charge? Caroline O’Connor ’13, Joseph Leone ’10, Tom Hill ’12, Katelyn Morreale ’13, Erin Smith ’10, Seath Crandall ’11, Laura Foley ’12, and Mr. Lively are typical actors, getting lost in their parts and thinking they’re the director. Cut is the matryoshka doll of drama.

TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN

An Evening of One Act Plays. Produced by Lauren Kelly ’10. This Is A Test directed by Katie McNamara ’10. Ham Radio directed by Alex Silveri ’11. Cut directed by Robert Lemire ’10. Presented by the Anselmian Abbey Players. At the Dana Center for the Humanities. Run time: approximately one and one half hour, with one intermission.
Friday, 5 February and Saturday, 6 February at 7:30 p.m.
$5 students; $7 adults; $6 college community; plus ticketing fee.

- gww