2008 Woodie Awards
Poor script puts a damper on Emerson Stage's Picnic
David A. Cox
Issue date: 12/16/04 Section: Arts and Entertainment
Last week, Emerson Stage put on a production of the show Picnic in the Semel Theater. When broken down to its essence, the show is a 1950s version of "The Ugly Duckling."
More specifically, however, the story centers around two sisters, Millie (freshman theatre studies major Katie O'Connor) and Madge (senior musical theatre studies major Kelley Dorney). Millie is the intelligent sister who cannot find romance. Her sister, Madge, is the center of attention but is saddened by the fact that people only treat her as an object. Hal (senior dance major Michael Terry), is the studly-looking rebel with a controversial past, who just wishes to find success and that special someone. Finally, Alan (senior theatre studies major Joe Bombard) is Madge's preppie boyfriend, who seems to always do as he is told.
In many ways, the show was spectacular, with problems that were for the most part contained within the script. The actors shined in their roles, as best as the script would allow.
Initially, one could easily forget that this was a student production, simply because the set did not look like anything that was designed by students. It was a professional job, complete with a swing hung from the ceiling. Bravo to senior design technology major Erin Thomas for her vision of set design.
What could have made this production more impressive would be the rewriting of some major points in the script. The ending was predictable from the beginning. The script disappointingly seems to focus on the struggles of Madge, the pretty-girl daughter, and not enough on her "less attractive sister," Millie. Millie is one of those characters that starts off looking like a simple character on the surface, but once the show really gets going, her character should develop into something far more complex.
The person in the show that was the most cheated, though, was Bombard. Whatever William Inge was drinking when he wrote Alan's lines, the audience could have used some at the end. An example of this occurred in the first act when Alan is alone with Madge. He says to her, "You are beautiful...even if you're not real."
O'Connor's character also does not develop throughout the play. Millie, who is filled with frustration, should have some sort of release at the ending, which never happens. At the beginning of the show, during a confrontation scene between Millie and Madge, O'Conner caught the audience's attention. This girl can act, but this part does not offer enough to this young actress who clearly has talent but needs to find a better role to show it off.
Dorney also gives an extraordinary performance. Again, like O'Connor and Bombard, she could have given a more impressive performance had the script been written better. Her character is also going through the inner turmoil of what it is to try and be something you're not and then be treated like it, discovering that living "the glamorous life" is not so glamorous.
The characters of these two women is one of the major plot points for the show, but without a more solid conflict, it just kind of dribbles off. The only real confrontation between the two sisters in Picnic occurs at the beginning and is only driven by Millie being angered that everyone loves Madge. This does not cut it. If they had a fight in the beginning of the show about beauty versus intelligence, we can presume this has happened many times before. There just needed to be something more that could have led to a bigger conflict.
Terry and Bombard take on the roles of the two male lead characters. Hal (Terry) is a complex character, filled with the anxiety of living a less-than- elegant life, yet wanting desperately to fit into modern society. Not only did Terry pull the role off extremely well, but he could not have been a better choice for this role in terms of his physical appearance.
Secondary characters played by theatre education graduate student Gail Phaneuf, senior theatre studies major Jennifer Cooper, and theatre studies major Stefan Dreisbach, were also quite impressive. One of the greatest points in the show, though, was just watching Dreisbach's facial expressions. One can picture this man standing in front of a mirror for hours when he was a child, making funny faces that would ultimately end up at the beginning and ending of every line in this show. This young graduate student gave a performance that goes to show that there is no such thing as a small part.
All these actors and actresses truly contribute to this show. The casting could not have been more appropriate. This, in combination with an impressive set, sophisticated costumes, wonderful directing by part-time performing arts faculty member Courtney O'Connor, and a theater such as the Semel, made Picnic an overall enjoyable experience.
More specifically, however, the story centers around two sisters, Millie (freshman theatre studies major Katie O'Connor) and Madge (senior musical theatre studies major Kelley Dorney). Millie is the intelligent sister who cannot find romance. Her sister, Madge, is the center of attention but is saddened by the fact that people only treat her as an object. Hal (senior dance major Michael Terry), is the studly-looking rebel with a controversial past, who just wishes to find success and that special someone. Finally, Alan (senior theatre studies major Joe Bombard) is Madge's preppie boyfriend, who seems to always do as he is told.
In many ways, the show was spectacular, with problems that were for the most part contained within the script. The actors shined in their roles, as best as the script would allow.
Initially, one could easily forget that this was a student production, simply because the set did not look like anything that was designed by students. It was a professional job, complete with a swing hung from the ceiling. Bravo to senior design technology major Erin Thomas for her vision of set design.
What could have made this production more impressive would be the rewriting of some major points in the script. The ending was predictable from the beginning. The script disappointingly seems to focus on the struggles of Madge, the pretty-girl daughter, and not enough on her "less attractive sister," Millie. Millie is one of those characters that starts off looking like a simple character on the surface, but once the show really gets going, her character should develop into something far more complex.
The person in the show that was the most cheated, though, was Bombard. Whatever William Inge was drinking when he wrote Alan's lines, the audience could have used some at the end. An example of this occurred in the first act when Alan is alone with Madge. He says to her, "You are beautiful...even if you're not real."
O'Connor's character also does not develop throughout the play. Millie, who is filled with frustration, should have some sort of release at the ending, which never happens. At the beginning of the show, during a confrontation scene between Millie and Madge, O'Conner caught the audience's attention. This girl can act, but this part does not offer enough to this young actress who clearly has talent but needs to find a better role to show it off.
Dorney also gives an extraordinary performance. Again, like O'Connor and Bombard, she could have given a more impressive performance had the script been written better. Her character is also going through the inner turmoil of what it is to try and be something you're not and then be treated like it, discovering that living "the glamorous life" is not so glamorous.
The characters of these two women is one of the major plot points for the show, but without a more solid conflict, it just kind of dribbles off. The only real confrontation between the two sisters in Picnic occurs at the beginning and is only driven by Millie being angered that everyone loves Madge. This does not cut it. If they had a fight in the beginning of the show about beauty versus intelligence, we can presume this has happened many times before. There just needed to be something more that could have led to a bigger conflict.
Terry and Bombard take on the roles of the two male lead characters. Hal (Terry) is a complex character, filled with the anxiety of living a less-than- elegant life, yet wanting desperately to fit into modern society. Not only did Terry pull the role off extremely well, but he could not have been a better choice for this role in terms of his physical appearance.
Secondary characters played by theatre education graduate student Gail Phaneuf, senior theatre studies major Jennifer Cooper, and theatre studies major Stefan Dreisbach, were also quite impressive. One of the greatest points in the show, though, was just watching Dreisbach's facial expressions. One can picture this man standing in front of a mirror for hours when he was a child, making funny faces that would ultimately end up at the beginning and ending of every line in this show. This young graduate student gave a performance that goes to show that there is no such thing as a small part.
All these actors and actresses truly contribute to this show. The casting could not have been more appropriate. This, in combination with an impressive set, sophisticated costumes, wonderful directing by part-time performing arts faculty member Courtney O'Connor, and a theater such as the Semel, made Picnic an overall enjoyable experience.