As is traditional with Emerging Artists Theatre, Series A of their biannual EATfest consists of six new short plays.
The Sky is Falling by Patrick Gabridge, directed by Amy Leland
This is a strange and interesting piece about cults. A construction-helmet-wearing cult member (Erin Tito) learns from her Guru (Debra Lass) that the spaceship they've been waiting for is finally about to arrive- she goes home to say goodbye to her nonbeliever sister and grandmother (Amy Bizjak and Susan Wallack) who end up coming along.
Stripping Eden by Wayne Paul Mattingly, directed by Danielle Quiesenberry
A piece that bends time to give us little fragments of a full story as we gradually piece together that the boy and girl onstage (Eilis Mary Cahill and Chris Henry) are brother and sister, that their parents died in a boating accident, etc... The guessing-game aspects of it were intriguing, though many of the questions are left unanswered- not least of which why the kids are named after characters from Orson Scott Card's Ender series- it seems to have no symbolic reason, and is, like much of the play, confusing.
Next by Staci Sweeden, directed by Janelle Lannan
Set in a UPS shipping office, this is a surprise romantic comedy about a couple (Joseph Collari and Alexandra Zabriskie) attempting to return a very large package to the person who sent it, while being stymied by an uncooperative UPS salesman (Jerry Alan Cole) and a spacey woman (Andrea Alton) who is next in line. It's an amusing piece, and Collari especially has some fine moments of exasperation.
Jack Goes Up, Jack Goes Down by Ted LoRusso, directed by TRoy Miller
A very funny piece set in and around an elevator, which carries Jack (Scott Raker) and Paula (Jen Morris) to their new jobs at a corporation, following them as their fortunes with the company rise and fall and Jack keeps attempting to make a move on Paula. Fine acting work from both makes the witty dialogue crackle and pop with tension, and great direction by Mr. Miller keeps it at a fever pitch.
Sharing the Pie by Kathleen Warnock, directed by Peter Bloch
This was the dramatic highlight of the evening- a drunken Ken (Russell Jordan) is at a truck stop eating pie and coffee, when his ride arrives in the form of Junie (Sara Hatfield), his sister's lesbian partner. The two sit and finish the piece of pie, and reminisce. Warnock's craft is such that all the implied subtext is laid bare to the audience without the characters really being aware of it. Terrific acting work from both Jordan and Hatfield.
Hi Speed Disconnect by Chris Widney, directed by Aimee Howard
When two people on a blind date (Sara Miriam Aziz and Dan Barnhill) can't get off their cellphones, they eavesdrop enough on each other's conversations to go through an entire relationship in about 10 minutes. An amusing skit, and dexterous verbal work by Aziz and Barnhill.
EMERGING ARTISTS THEATRE and Paul Adams, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR present the 2008 Fall EATfest, for a two-week limited engagement at Roy Arias Theatre Center, Off-Broadway Theatre (300 West 43rd St, 5th floor, NYC). Performances begin Tuesday, November 4, 2008, and run through Sunday, November 16, 2008.
EATfest plays the following regular schedule through Sunday, November 16, 2008:
Tuesdays at 7 pm - Series A
Wednesdays at 7 pm - Series A
Thursdays at 7 pm - Series B
Fridays at 7 pm - Series B
Saturdays at 1pm - Series C
Saturdays at 4:30 pm - Series B
Saturdays at 7:30 pm - Series A
Sundays at 1 pm - Series C
Sundays at 4:30 pm - Series A
Sundays at 7:30 pm - Series B
There is a performance of Series C, Monday, November 10th at 7pm.
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.
