'Be More Funny and Other Short Plays' by WCSU Theatre - A Review

DANBURY, CT -On Thursday evening, I had the chance to view the fifth virtual offering in the New Works - New Voices series presented by the Western CT State University Department of Theatre Arts, a piece called Be More Funny, and Other Short Plays, written by Eric Lane. The New Works - New Voices is a virtual production series amplifying the voices of eight playwrights and composers from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. Unfortunately, this was the final showing of this production.

The New Works - New Voices series is dedicated to the memory of Richard Reimold 1935-2020.

BE MORE FUNNY is two acts of unrelated short plays that were finely acted by a collection of WCSU students. There were a few four-letter words in at least two of the pieces and some of the themes were adult in nature, but there were also some lighter plays that brought a smile to my face as I watched on my computer monitor.

The first act opened with “Curtain Raiser,” a two-actor piece set in an abandoned Woolworths building that is being transformed into a theatre. In this play, WCSU senior Joey Taylor played “Oscar” and freshman Jamishay Cammann was Lorraine in a split screen that made them appear to be in the same location. I appreciated the discussion of the characters’ first names in this one. Next up was “Lady Liberty and The Donut Girl,” a “meet cute” play that featured sophomore Hunter Chicoine in the copper patina Statue of Liberty costume as Wes and junior Jessica Abbotts as the adorable high school student/supermarket worker Erin.

The next play was entitled “Ride,” set in late fall at a New Jersey roadside produce stand. Here work friends Carrie, played by junior Ashley Raymond, tries to discern why Molly, played by junior Elizabeth Quinby, is not excited about her father’s gift of a new car.

This was followed by the hard-hitting piece “Faith,” with senior Tim Halligan in the role of priest and senior Kenneth Galm in his confessional as Michael. This would have been more effective is the two were seated in an actual confessional box onstage, but of course that was impossible. The first act closer was an interesting two-actor play called “The Statue of Bolivar” that featured senior Liv Heaton as the fourteen-year-old Jemma, a girl taking her father’s place on a date he paid for at a charity auction with Elizabeth, played by senior Chrystal Madore.

After intermission, the piece “Bear Essentials” that was listed in the virtual program was replaced by “City of Lost Souls” set in NYC and “Knock,” set in a kitchen at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The former was interesting, but I am not sure that I understood the latter. The fact that the stream was loading for the better part of the ending probably didn’t help my following what the punchline for “Knock” was.

“Some of these short plays were written a while ago and performed on their own, and some have been written only a few weeks ago and will be performed here for the first time. In the collecting of these short plays, we can acknowledge how some stories do not take a long time to tell.” - Haley Napier, Dramaturg for BE MORE FUNNY

When we returned to the program order with “The Table,” a play with four actors in quadrants for a cocktail party in the home of one of the two couples discussing a table. Senior Kayla Fischer played Kate, senior Patrick Cassidy was Joe, senior Bailey Nickerson played Shay and junior Sierra Mayhew was Ana. “Assumptions” featured two characters discussing that we shouldn’t make assumptions. Sophomore Beckett Pais played Ray and junior Alex Rushton was Bailey.

The shortest of the works was entitled “Oh” and included sophomore Ana Borque in the role of Annie and junior Robert Knippel as her father Jim. This was followed by “The View From Here,” a strong piece about the 9/11 tragedy. The four actors did very well with their characters, especially junior Michele McDonald in the role of Arlene, a bereaved mother of a victim. Senior Victoria Gentile played Ellen, junior Liam McGrath was Barry and junior Robert Knippel was Mac.

The second act ended with the title play, “Be More Funny” which featured junior Tina Vlamis of Prospect as reporter Cheryl Barnett and junior Julia Bussel as opera star Cosima Tuttie. It needed to be just a little more funny, I thought.

Pam McDaniel directed this wide variety of plays and did well with these student actors. Ana Borque was her assistant. RJ Romeo worked his magic once again as the Audio/Video supervisor, with Arielle Edwards as the Audio/Video designer. Joni Johns Lerner was the costume supervisor.

Here are the links to my review of the four other productions in this series. Thank you to the VPAC staff for allowing me to view all five of the shows in this important series.

ORGANIZING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 AND OTHER LESSONS

IN THE OPEN

DOGNAP ON DEKALB

THE RADIUM GIRLS: A Jaw-Dropping New Musical

The series is streaming through Dec. 6, 2020. Tickets are available now 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.