Review: 'In The Open' by WCSU Theatre Department

DANBURY, CT - IN THE OPEN is the third offering in the Western CT State University series called New Works - New Voices, a virtual production series amplifying the voices of eight playwrights and composers from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds

The play written by Mona Mansour premiered on Monday evening and also streams on December 4th at 7:00 PM. Purchase your tickets on wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com The WCSU production was directed by Kimille Howard.

What is IN THE OPEN about?

At an elite high school for high achievers, an incident happens, an escalation of violence, something that never ever happens there. We see some of the lead up to it, as well as some of the fallout, and we see different entry points and accountings of the same incident, making us wonder if one truth matters more, or if the truth underneath it all - that such a thing could happen here – is possibly more disturbing than the incident itself.

Elias Levy notes that the play was originally commissioned in the spring of 2017 by the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan. “Set in the utopia of a private high school, the play deals with an “incident” that rocks the foundation the school was built on, while exploring the smaller relationships and factors that lead up to the incident...As you watch...please consider how this story serves as a response to recent events in our country. How does the play reflect the time in which it was written? How can we learn from these characters’ actions?”

There is definitely an incident that happens at this fictitious and seemingly progressive high school where some students are pretty severely injured. The clueless teacher leaves her students alone in the classroom for more than a minute, so the incident was just an accident waiting to happen. Because of this performance splices together the individual performances of the actors, the audience doesn’t really witness the physical interactions of the combatants, although, helpfully, there are some stage directions that are read aloud.

I wasn’t exactly sure of the details of the physical incident and perhaps it didn’t really matter, because the point that there are multiple versions from the witnesses/students is clear. Things do come out 'in the open.' That the adults in the permissive administration are SHOCKED is expected, and as a former educator, I may have had a hard time getting past their collective cluelessness. That the whole thing started because a male student shares an embarrassing video taken of a young female student without her consent is apparent, as is the fact that the student who suffers a concussion is black. So there are a lot of issues woven into this story, adult themes; the play comes with a warning of depiction of school violence.

The “Three Girls,” a kind of diverse Greek chorus who often speak in unison, are played by sophomore Raissatou Karim of Stratford, junior Aurora Schloat, and junior Sydney Campbell. Sophomore Victoria D’Orazio plays the student Claire and sophomore Elijah Carbone plays her friend Towne. Senior Camry Young (ARTURO UI) plays the African-American student Cam.

Sophomore Sydney Maher from Milford gives a memorable portrayal of the young lesbian student E.A. Other students at the high school include sophomore Cara Leahy as Riley, sophomore Tori M. Lopez as Sofia, sophomore Liv Rando as Thea, Manny Farmer as Felix, sophomore Jenna Drahota as Nina, sophomore Rebecca Donaghy as Anna, senior Chelsea Weaver (HAND TO GOD) as Naomi and WCSU sophomore from Waterbury Raul Calderon as Kev, just Kev.

The adults in this orbit include sophomore Bella Bosco (HAND TO GOD, ARTURO UI) as the teacher, junior Will Stewich (HAND TO GOD) as the principal Lou, junior Colleen Callahan (ARTURO UI) as Devon the counselor, sophomore Destiny Samuel (SPELLING BEE) as Lena, junior Darius Mullens as Taylor, senior Leo Moraes (ARTURO UI) as Casey and Ms. Weaver as Betsy.

My former first grade student Dania Fedrick of Naugatuck, now already a sophomore at WCSU, plays Cam’s younger sister Nadia and junior Jamar Nichols read the aforementioned stage directions.

Overall, the technical aspects worked quite well; after I adjusted the settings on the YouTube screen for the best look, there were only a few times when the video took some time to load. The director also served as visual director and editor, Arielle Edwards was an audio/video designer with assistants Ashleigh Shaw, Erick Mockovah and Theresia Young. Courtney Skeens was the head costumer, Melani Piacentini was the assistant costumer and wardrobe person. Sydney Kuhn did the graphics.

IN THE OPEN

Tickets are available at wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com!

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.