Beyond the Norm
This staged reading of the play by Prince Gomolvilas and
directed by Catherine Ming T’ien Duffly is playing at PSU’s Lincoln Hall in the
Boiler Room (#55), 1620 SW Park Ave., through this weekend. For more information, go to their site at www.TheatreDiaspora.org
What is the Nature of Reality? As a child one thinks that everyone sees the
world in the same way that we do (I know I did). As we grow more mature, we find out just how
wrong we are. It comes as something of a
shock to the system, forcing us to find our own reality/truth. Some simply accept what they see before them,
never questioning the validity of it, following blinding, like lemmings, over
the cliff, if the crowd chooses to take that route.
Others delve deep within, finding that elusive Truth in
religion, perhaps, or materialism, or politics.
But, for some, the journey becomes very personal and they find solace in
a secret world, only of their knowing, a tortured sojourn, which can take
extreme patience by others to understand.
And some simply see a world of a dimensional difference to ours, a world
which we call, the paranormal.
This is one of my favorite genres, so I was eager to
discover how the author was going to relate it and I was very pleased. Once upon a time…there were two brothers, Max
(Samson Syharath), a professed non-believer, or debunker of such nonsense, and
Visarut (Savira Khambhu), somewhat more compassionate in the search for a
stable reality. As you may have
surmised, they investigate paranormal activities.
Enter Delia (Josie Seid), a woman who insists she has been
visited by an invisible, malevolent spirit, Jai (Melissa L. Magaña, also the
Narrator) who wishes her evil for some reason.
Her flamboyant husband, Felix (Jasper Howard), has other ideas as to the
haunting. Max, who believes there is
something seriously amiss, consults his sensitive mother, Tasanee (Elaine Low),
for aid in understanding and, hopefully, ridding this house of the evil
entity. More I cannot tell you, as the
plot has many twists and turns which an audience should discover. But, just know, that not everything is as it
appears.
This may be only a reading but know that it goes far beyond
that in very effective lighting effects (Xander Atwood), as well as live sound
and music effects (Joe Kye). And the
authentic, live screams by Seid and Magaña are enough to chill you to the
bone. The descriptions in the narrations
of the action are perfect for someone to write a screen adaptation for this
story, which I predict, would be very successful.
Duffly has successfully brought all these elements together,
blending in a pretty amazing production, noting the fact that they have only chairs,
and scripts in their hands, which does not in any way, hamper the power of this
story. And, like I said, I am a fan of
this genre, finding that, like many filmmakers (having written/produced a
couple myself), a good story is paramount to the key for their success. Corman with his Poe/Price collaborations was
a student of this, as well as Val Lewton and writers, Rod Serling and Ray
Bradbury, Matheson and Beaumont, as well as King, among the best. “The Haunting (of Hill House)” by Shirley
Jackson and directed by Robert Wise, is probably the best of the filmed ghost
stories. Gomolvilas, in my opinion, has
certainly joined the ranks of this elite group!
And the cast is extremely powerful in creating the tension,
as well as humor, in the story.
Hitchcock had always said in order to have a successful, suspenseful
story, you need humor at times to break it up, to give the audience a chance to
relax before the next shocker, which will then be all the more terrifying
because the audience has momentarily has been lulled into a sense of safety. Gomlovilas understands this well, as well as
having a serious message underlying it.
Howard has a great voice and presence as the devoted husband
and Sied is equally good as the troubled wife.
Low is always fine in their productions, as she is here, and Syharath, another
mainstay of their shows, as the chief investigator, is at his best here. Khambhu does a good job as a contrast to his
brother. And Magaña conveys very well
the storytelling parts of the script, creating the necessary tension necessary,
by just her voice. And her
transformation (as she is a lovely, young lady) into the ugly spirit, Jai, with
nothing but her acting ability, is amazing (appearing very much like the evil
entity in the Japanese “Grudge” films).
I highly recommend this play. If you do choose to see it, please tell them
Dennis sent you.
--DJS
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