Actors Alliance Festival 2005 - Program 7

Seven days, seven wonderful days of plays -- and now it is almost over. There will be the best of the best on Sunday, so try not to miss it. Program Seven went international, an interesting mix and take on happiness and tragedy in our times.

Nigerian Bookends is written and produced by Cuauhtemoc Q. Kish. It is directed by Antonio "TJ" Johnson with, Monique Gaffney and Jason Mallory starring. With the varied beat of Rhys Green's drum upstage, Hijara (Gaffney) and Hijaro (Mallory) stand before a Nigerian court pleading their case. The charges: sexual misconduct. Their crimes: being raped. Their sentence: death by stoning. Johnson's direction is tight, somewhat understated, yet highly dramatic for this very scary story.

An Honest Arrangement is written and produced by David Wiener with Lia Metz directing. It stars David Rethoret and Karina Montgomery. Willie (Rethoret) waits in the airport lobby for his email bride carrying only a photo and a meager bouquet of flowers. The last passenger is Nara (Montgomery), much younger, rather frumpy. Both have been honest in their emails and in their conversation. She knows she'll have to take care of him in his old age and makes many references. He defends himself as being quite healthy. There is a sweetness, a joy, and an optimism in the naturalistic piece. Director Metz has taken playwright Wiener's words punching bits with carefully staged moves.

Red Magic is written and produced by Beverly Berwick and directed by Sophie Anderson. It stars Jo Dempsey, Deirdre Wagner, and Brandon Walker. This is a study in non-communication as an American diplomat's wife tries to cope with the culture of Columbia and fails miserably. Her Columbian maid finally loses control, much to the horror of her boyfriend and gardener. The direction is a bit over-the-top, but, then, the script is too abrupt, leading to seemingly unmotivated anger.

A Girl's War is produced by Anahid Shahrik and written by Joyce Van Dyke. Director Robert Dahey has cast Anahid Shahrik, D'Ann Paton, Juan Manzo, and Landon Vaughn. A model for 15 years in New York, Anahid (Anahid Shahrik) returns to her native Armenia. Ethnic cleansing, in the ongoing war between the Azerbaijanis and Armenians, has claimed her brother. The production feels like bits and pieces of a full length play. Only one short-lived glimmer of light touches this dark work. Some of the excerpts are only a line or two long, which makes it difficult to follow. The performances are excellent.

Winter in Belize is a one-page play by George Soete and features the excellent Katherine Forbes. She's a bag lady. We've seen her at one time or another in any big city in the U. S. She is delusional, probably psychotic, and needs meds. Her fantasies are about her former wealth.

A Vagina With a Brain is a one-page play by Allyson Collins. Collins plays her vagina. She examines her role and the role of the other body parts. Collins' take on the thoughts of her vagina are hilarious at times and often quite insightful. This is certainly a different view from the popular Vagina Monologues. Maybe next a male will have the brazenness to pen "A Penis Brain Reacts." Hmmmm!