Playing Roles Beyond Their Years

Never afraid to have students take on mature roles in shows not traditionally for children, Little Village Playhouse has once again stayed true to its artistic and edgy reputation, casting actors ranging from 14 to 18-years-old in this weekend's productions at Irvington Town Hall Theater.

"We don't produce 'Annie' like most youth theater organizations," said Little Village Playhouse's artistic director Stephanie Kovacs.  "Through imagination exercises, we push the kids to play roles that are filled with emotion and complexity."

A nonprofit youth theater organization based out of Pleasantville, The Little Village Playhouse produces shows and runs theater classes and workshops for students. Its mission is to bring contemporary theater training to local communities.

This weekend's first show, "Adding Machine," is a one-act musical set in the 1920's dealing with the issues of escape, choice and perspective. It centers upon a character who works passionately as an accountant until his job is replaced by the revolutionary technology of the adding machine.

In a haze of momentary rage, the character murders his boss, and finds himself in prison, where he meets a man who advises him on issues relating to life, death, and the problems that arise between the two. 

"'Adding Machine' is an ambitious musical," Kovacs said. "People sometimes wonder how we can produce such tough plays with high school students, but sometimes we feel kids do it better.  They aren't afraid to just go for it."

The Little Village Playhouse's adaptation consists of eleven actors cast in front of a shaded, gray background, which Kovacs hopes will bring the focus to the actors' determined performances and the intensity of the subject matter.

In contrast to the absurdist plot and complicated nature of "Adding Machine," the Little Village Playhouse also brings "Almost, Maine" to the Irvington Town Hall Theater this weekend. A modern play developed by actor and playwright John Cariani, it first premiered in 2004 before going off-Broadway in 2006. 

"Almost, Maine" is the story of a small, Northeastern community called Almost and the relationships that arise within it. Considered to be a few plays within one, the audience gets the chance to track the stories of different characters' interactions and romances all happening simultaneously in the same town town.

"Almost, Maine" can be adapted for a cast of anywhere from four to 19 actors; the Little Village Playhouse's interpretation includes six, meaning that all actors will play multiple roles. 

The cast and crew of "Almost, Maine" were fortunate enough to have the chance to meet and speak with the playwright himself, whom Kovacs was able to track down through Facebook and her connection to a tiny town in northern Maine.

"When I found out the play was loosely based on the small Maine town my first husband's family was from, I became determined to find him," Kovacs said.  

When Cariani came up from New York City to work with Kovacs' students, he expressed to them everything Kovacs already believed about the play.

"He told them his desire was to create a play that didn't lose itself in its goal to achieve complexity, but rather represented something real and relatable about love and relationships," Kovacs said.

But possibly what Kovacs loves most about the show is the greater significance of its set. The scenery is placed upon a backdrop of stars, the Northern Lights--something she hopes will bring out the play's underlining charm and magic.

"Adding Machine" is showing 2 pm Sat. and 8pm Sun. (It is not recommended for children under 13.) "Almost, Maine" is showing 8pm Sat. and 2pm Sun.  

Tickets will be available at the door or to purchase ahead, call: (914) 591-6602.

For more information about the Little Village Playhouse, visit:  http://www.littlevillageplayhouse.com/index.html