None of the Above is Witty but Uneven

by Matthew Falduto

Anamosa - Uneven might be the best word to describe Starlighters's most recent production of Jenny Lyn Bader's None of the Above. There are some very funny moments, and some emotional moments, but all of those moments did not add up to a consistently funny or emotional show.

Most of the blame, it seems to me, is to be found in the script itself. The story seems straightforward but becomes more convoluted and unbelievable as it progresses. A smart college guy named Clark (Zach Lockhart) is hired by the father of a rich, high school student named Jamie (Breeyn Tighe) to help her achieve a perfect score on her SAT. Both Jamie and Clark have secrets: she is a drug dealer (at least for the first twenty minutes of the show; then that subplot pretty much disappears without any consequences) and Clark is a gambler. As you might expect, the two find themselves drawn to each other and we believe this will be a clever, funny romance of opposites. Instead of taking this tack, the script throws in gambling and alcohol addiction, suggestions of mafia connections, and a Faustian deal around which the entire play revolves. As the show progresses, the story becomes more and more complicated, and unfortunately, less and less interesting.

The one aspect the script does have going for it is a lot of clever humor. Both actors dive into this humor and deliver it well. They are at their best thrusting at one another with barbed comments. Both are strong actors who know how to command a stage. It would be wonderful to see them working another script - Taming of the Shrew, perhaps?

The set is wonderful. Jamie's bedroom is a childlike pink playground, but the posters of Lennon, Lady Gaga, and the Black Eyed Peas suggest a teenager who is finding her place in the world. I also appreciated the musical interludes between each scene. Songs like "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga added to the overall tone of the show.

The director (Matt Kumley) used the set and the space well, moving the actors around the stage for mostly good effect. Kumley's direction is most effective when the moments are confrontational between the characters. However, when the script calls for a more intimate moment, his direction sent the actors too close too soon, forcing them to move away and then back toward one another. This lead to uneven intimate moments that lacked intensity.

I do have to say the rest of the audience enjoyed the show far more than I did based on the applause between each scene. I did enjoy the humor and I did enjoy watching two strong actors practice their craft. So go for the wit of the script if not its plausibility. None of the Above runs through June 26. Ticket information is here.

Starlighters opens None of the Above June 17

Anamosa - Starlighters II Theatre’s will present the hilarious modern comedy None of The Above written by Jenny Lyn Bader. Performance dates will be June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 at Starlighters Theatre, 136 East Main Street, in Anamosa. Friday and Saturday performances will be at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances at 2 p.m.

None Of The Above is a character driven play that takes place in the urban setting of New York City where we meet Jamie, a 17-year-old daughter of excessively affluent parents, living on the Upper East Side. She would rather spend her time being a cause célèbre at her exclusive private high school than studying for the SATs. To take on the challenge of tutoring her, Jamie’s father hires Clark, a geeky college student who likes to count the words in every sentence he hears. On the surface, the duo couldn’t be more different. But when Jamie learns of the conditions and rewards in her father’s contract with Clark, the snap judgments between the two fade away, and they form their own pact, which might just prove to benefit both of them.

Ticket prices are $13 for adults and $12 for senior citizens (62 and over) and students (through college). For reservations, call the box office at (319) 462-4793. The box office hours are Monday through Friday, from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The cast of None of The Above includes Monticello's own Breeyn Tighe as Jamie, and Zach Lockhart from Adel, Iowa as Clark. The director of None of The Above is Matt Kumley, also of Monticello.

On Wednesday, June 1st, a panel of five of Starlighters II's finest directors (Rick Sanborn; William Wims; Jan Cratsenberg; Polly Chalstrom; Bob Furino) was invited by director Matt Kumley to critique the show and give him feedback for possible use in the last few weeks of rehearsals.

The panel was impressed by the high quality of the show with two and a half weeks of rehearsal time still remaining. Theatre co-founder, Bob Furino, said, "This show has the potential to be one of Starlighters II's best productions, considering that it is a very fine show now, and still has over two weeks of rehearsal to polish it even further. It has a lot of laughs, heartwarming romance, and even some great moments of drama. I loved watching the two actors, Breeyn Tighe and Zach Lockhart, breathe life into the characters of Jamie and Clark."

"I am very impressed," continued Furino, "by the work of the show's director, Matt Kumley. This is his first time in the director's chair. We already knew Matt was a strong actor, but he is also developing into a fine director of acting as well. He has a good insight into the characters and subtext of the play, and has a way of bringing out the best in actors. I think he has a great future in the theatre."

For more information about None of The Above, visit the Starlighters II website at www.starlighters.org or call 319-462-4793. None of The Above contains some strong language.

Auditions for None of the Above

Anamosa - Starlighters II Theatre in Anamosa will hold auditions for the new comedy, None Of The Above, by award-winning playwright Jenny Lyn Bader on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, April 10, 11, 12 at 7 pm on the mainstage at the Starlighters Theatre, 136 E. Main Street, in Anamosa. The director is Bob Furino.

THE STORY:

This character driven play takes place in the urban setting of New York City where we meet Jamie, a 17-year-old daughter of excessively affluent parents, living on the Upper East Side. She would rather spend her time being a cause célèbre at her exclusive private high school than studying for the SATs. To take on the challenge of tutoring her, Jamie’s father hires Clark, a geeky college student who likes to count the words in every sentence he hears. On the surface, the duo couldn’t be more different. But when Jamie learns of the conditions and rewards in her father’s contract with Clark, the snap judgments between the two fade away, and they form their own pact, which might just prove to benefit both of them. Written by critically acclaimed playwright, Jenny Lyn Bader, this endearingly clever new comedy will prove that in life, the answer isn’t always as clear cut as A, B or C.

Production Dates:
June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm

Characters in None Of The Above:
Jamie (Female; Late teens-early 20s)
Clark (Male; 20s-early 30s)

Actors do not necessarily need to be in the age ranges given, as long as they could possibly play someone in that age range. Prepared monologues are welcome at auditions, but the director wants to emphasize that they are NOT required in order to audition for the show.

Those interested can read a 10-page preview of the script of None Of The Above at Google Books.

If you have questions, or wish to read a perusal script, contact director Bob Furino by sending an e-mail to bfurino@mchsi.com or check out their website.