Student theater works offer varied show

Geech wins five bucks and No one travels on Valentine's Day, a pair of one-act plays being performed this weekend in Wilder Main, offer audiences the unique opportunity to watch and critique student-written drama.

Written by sophomore Jason Palumbo, Geech is an attempt to combine social commentary with theater of the absurd, yet the end product is a somewhat weak show. Directed by sophomore Nathan Dore, the entire play is set in a living room where a couple of high school guys, Geech and Jeff, are actively watching Monday Night Football. During the course of the game, the slightly nervous Jeff reveals to his friend that he has just murdered another boy, a bully. The rest of the play is interwoven with Geech's concern over the outcome of the game and Jeff's attempt to rationalize his crime.

Perhaps due to the scripts short length, the characters of Geech and Jeff - played by sophomores Andy Karlson-Weber and Gabe Carleton-Barnes, respectively - come across as little more than archetypes: Geech as the beer, football and pork rinds fanatic and Jeff as the awkward teen who is pushed too far. Though the concept is somewhat timely (in the wake of the tragedy in Colorado), it is difficult for the audience to sympathize with characters that are nothing more than caricatures.

The play is not without it's good moments. Karlson-Weber, in particular, successfully executes the comedic role of Geech, showing genuine concern for his friend at one instant and then screaming obscenities at the television the next. Palumbo's dialogue is also quite amusing at times.

Unfortunately, Geech wins five bucks is tepid and anti-climactic. This may be the playwright's intent, for in the director's notes, Dore explains that the show reflects society's ever-increasing need to react on a whim and the role that television has played in deadening our sense of reality. However, this may also be a tired and played-out notion.

At first glance, the premise of No one travels seems equally tired. Two long-time friends grow apart in college only to realize and admit, in the course of one evening, the feelings they both have for one another. The play emerges remarkably entertaining despite this first impression. Thanks are due to a competent, and at times delightful, performance by the actors and a witty and well-written script.

In the roles of Obies Anne and Jonah, sophomore Anne Mathilde Coburn and first-year Matt Marlin have incredible on-stage chemistry, made even more incredible by the fact that this chemistry was built up within only two weeks of rehearsals. They did seem a bit unsure of themselves at first, but as the play began building toward its climax, in which Jonah's love for Anne is fully revealed, Coburn and Marlin appear to be of one mind. There is little doubt that this chemistry will only grow stronger in the remaining performances.

Junior director/playwright Mariah Miller manages to take a somewhat typical romance story and liven it up with clever dialogue and an Oberlin setting. Despite a few too many references to Oberlin, Miller's use of campus issues and character-types was both amusing and dead on.

An Evening of Student Written Theater will give three more performances all in Wilder Main lounge. One is today at 8 p.m., and two on Saturday are at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Spectator's Sport? Sophomore Annie Coburn and first-year Matt Marlin in OSTA's student-written play night (photo by Stephrn Menyhart)