Spring EATfest, Series B

Emerging Artists Theatre should be commended for their dedication to new works.  Their annual EATfests (Spring and Fall) show off new one-act plays performed by members of their company.  I got to review series B and C of their Spring EATfest this year.  (Here's the review of the other).

Series B is made up of the following plays:

• Islands of Repair by Leslie Bramm, directed by Melissa Attebery

This was an interesting piece about a husband and wife (Scott Klavan and Elizabeth A. Bell) stranded in a rubber raft in shark-infested waters in hurricane season.  Their shared adversity at first leads them to irritated bickering, then eventually brings them together.  Fine work by the actors keeps the piece moving.

• Love, Me (Margaret) by Jennie Contuzzi, directed by Kevin Brofsky 

A fascinating piece about love and the way it can be perverted by those who don't understand it.  Margaret (Irene Longshore) is a young woman who recently broke up with a guy named Shane and who is trying to discover what she did wrong.  She is obsessed with an ex-highschool teacher (Ron Bopst) who is in jail for killing his lover in a crime of passion.  The play is a reflection of the attitudes in Equus, except instead of, like Dysart, wanting to feel that wild passion, Margaret wants to inspire that level of passion in someone else.  When she attempts a date with sweet Louis (Ashley Green), who works with her at the library and has a crush on her, things go awry.  Powerful writing, clear direction and a great cast make this a dramatic highlight of the evening.

• The Letter by Chuck Rose, directed by Raza Allan Kazlas

This was the comic highlight of the evening.  Arnold (Cash Tilton) and Rebecca (Shaun Bennet Wilson) are colleagues- she's a contractor and it's her last day.  Arnold has an obvious crush, and planned to invite her out to the governor's mansion for a party, but his plans are wrecked when Martin (the hilarious Marc Castle) brings the news that Rebecca has to fly back to New York posthaste for a presentation.  She leaves to prepare, and Martin goads Arnold into telling Rebecca about his crush in an E-mail.  An unfortunate typo adds another layer of hilarity.  The writing is very funny, to begin with.  The cast is delightful, all of them hitting their comic marks with aplomb.  Kazlas keeps the play moving briskly.

• Onions by FJ Hartland, directed by Dan Dinero 

A strangely touching play- Aaron (Ron Bopst again) has come to see his mother Dinah (Vivian Meisner) in the nursing home, past visiting hours.  He meets Hazel (Hershey Miller), a nurse who is at first reluctant to let him in.  I was expecting more comedy here, but though this piece begins in a humorous way, it takes an unexpected turn into serious drama late in the script.  It's some excellent work from the performers, especially Mr. Bopst, who I've only seen do comedic roles before.

EATFest plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, May 4, 2008:

Tuesdays at 7 pm - Series A
Wednesdays at 7 pm - Series B
Thursdays at 7 pm - Series C
Fridays at 7 pm - Series A
Saturdays at 5 pm - Series C
Saturdays at 7 pm - Series B
Sundays at 2 pm - Series B
Sundays at 5pm - Series A
Sundays at 7 pm - Series C

Tickets are $18.00 and $10.00 with student ID/senior. For reservations, please visit www.eatheatre.org, or call 866-811-4111.

Tickets may also be purchased in person half-hour prior to the performance at Roy Arias Theatre Center (300 West 43rd St, 5th floor). TDF accepted.

Photos: Erica Parise
1. Scott Klavan and Elizabeth A. Bell in "Islands of Repair".
2. Ashley Green and Irene Longshore in "Love, Me (Margaret).
3. Marc Castle, Shaun Bennet Wilson, and Cash Tilton in "The Letter".
4. Ron Bopst, Vivian Meisner, and Hershey Miller in "Onions"

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