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Darlington Players to present “Bright Ideas”
Apr 5, 2005 10:50 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
What will parents do to get their kids into the right pre-school? Hire tutors? Beg? Bribe? How about murder as a last resort? In “Bright Ideas,” a new comedy by Eric Coble, murder is just the beginning.
After Joshua and Genevra Bradley (sophomore Ben Pate and senior Lauren Bowling) kill Denise (sophomore Caitlin Rivet) to get her son’s place in line at Bright Ideas Early Childhood Development Academy, the parent association begins to look more like the cast of “The Sopranos.”
With satirical nods to “Macbeth” and broad physical comedy, “Bright Ideas,” lampoons our obsession with wanting our children to be “the best.”
“It was darkly comic, my favorite kind of material, and its satire of over-anxious parenting hit me right where I live,” said Director David Powell, chairman of the English department. “Comedy is always hard to do, but this cast is very talented, naturally funny and committed to what we are doing. They have made the hard work fun.”
Bowling’s character, Genevra Bradley, is a working mother who will literally do anything to provide her son Mac with the best of the best.
“In Act I, Genevra is put down, very sensitive and, in a lot of ways, very innocent and naïve, and then after she kills her co-worker Denise, she turns into an over-aggressive, angry power-mom. It’s been a lot of fun exploring the two sides of the spectrum,” said Bowling. “Though the play is full of funny lines and physical comedy, at the center of it is the heartbreaking story of this family who was very happy and normal, but in trying to do ‘what’s right’ they lose all of it.”
Pate’s charhacter, Joshua, is the other half of the murderous duo.
“Just being able to portray Joshua has been a blast for me,” said Pate. “I have loved being able to work with Mr. Powell and the rest of the cast.”
Senior Brandon Goodman plays Ross Bain, a seemingly perfect father who is, in fact, not-so-perfect.
“The most fun part about this role is playing a ‘perfect parent,’ which is also the most difficult,” he said. “There are some hysterical monologues as well as one-liners … I hope the play brings laughter and a good time to everyone who sees it.”
Bain’s wife, Lynzie, is played by sophomore Caitlin Murray.
“Lynzie lives for her children and wants to make sure that they can live, grow and learn in the great school in which they are enrolled,” said Murray. “I hope that the audience will be able to realize jus thow hectic life is today and that maybe everyone just needs to stop for a minute and enjoy what they are doing.”
In contrast to the other productions presented this year by The Darlington Players – the Shakespearean drama “Othello” and Cole Porter’s musical “Anything Goes” – “Bright Ideas” is strictly comedy.
“I think exploring different genres helps the actors grow,” said Goodman. “I am forced to be versatile and become completely different characters, and becoming these different people forces me not to allow myself to be stereotyped into one [type of] role.”
“[‘Bright Ideas’] is the final show in a season that has included very spectacular, difficult plays, and I hope the audience enjoys it because it is so different from the other two,” said Bowling. “It’s important to have a well-rounded repertoire, and the fact that we can do Shakespeare, a classical musical and a modern comedy speaks volumes about the depth and ability of the program. I think the audience will see that when they come to this production and will want to keep coming back.”
Rated PG-14 for subject matter and language, “Bright Ideas” will be presented in the Zelle Drama Room April 15, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. with a preview dress rehearsal April 14 at 7 p.m. Admission is free for students, faculty and Fine Arts Booster Club patrons and $5 for others. Seating is limited.
After Joshua and Genevra Bradley (sophomore Ben Pate and senior Lauren Bowling) kill Denise (sophomore Caitlin Rivet) to get her son’s place in line at Bright Ideas Early Childhood Development Academy, the parent association begins to look more like the cast of “The Sopranos.”
With satirical nods to “Macbeth” and broad physical comedy, “Bright Ideas,” lampoons our obsession with wanting our children to be “the best.”
“It was darkly comic, my favorite kind of material, and its satire of over-anxious parenting hit me right where I live,” said Director David Powell, chairman of the English department. “Comedy is always hard to do, but this cast is very talented, naturally funny and committed to what we are doing. They have made the hard work fun.”
Bowling’s character, Genevra Bradley, is a working mother who will literally do anything to provide her son Mac with the best of the best.
“In Act I, Genevra is put down, very sensitive and, in a lot of ways, very innocent and naïve, and then after she kills her co-worker Denise, she turns into an over-aggressive, angry power-mom. It’s been a lot of fun exploring the two sides of the spectrum,” said Bowling. “Though the play is full of funny lines and physical comedy, at the center of it is the heartbreaking story of this family who was very happy and normal, but in trying to do ‘what’s right’ they lose all of it.”
Pate’s charhacter, Joshua, is the other half of the murderous duo.
“Just being able to portray Joshua has been a blast for me,” said Pate. “I have loved being able to work with Mr. Powell and the rest of the cast.”
Senior Brandon Goodman plays Ross Bain, a seemingly perfect father who is, in fact, not-so-perfect.
“The most fun part about this role is playing a ‘perfect parent,’ which is also the most difficult,” he said. “There are some hysterical monologues as well as one-liners … I hope the play brings laughter and a good time to everyone who sees it.”
Bain’s wife, Lynzie, is played by sophomore Caitlin Murray.
“Lynzie lives for her children and wants to make sure that they can live, grow and learn in the great school in which they are enrolled,” said Murray. “I hope that the audience will be able to realize jus thow hectic life is today and that maybe everyone just needs to stop for a minute and enjoy what they are doing.”
In contrast to the other productions presented this year by The Darlington Players – the Shakespearean drama “Othello” and Cole Porter’s musical “Anything Goes” – “Bright Ideas” is strictly comedy.
“I think exploring different genres helps the actors grow,” said Goodman. “I am forced to be versatile and become completely different characters, and becoming these different people forces me not to allow myself to be stereotyped into one [type of] role.”
“[‘Bright Ideas’] is the final show in a season that has included very spectacular, difficult plays, and I hope the audience enjoys it because it is so different from the other two,” said Bowling. “It’s important to have a well-rounded repertoire, and the fact that we can do Shakespeare, a classical musical and a modern comedy speaks volumes about the depth and ability of the program. I think the audience will see that when they come to this production and will want to keep coming back.”
Rated PG-14 for subject matter and language, “Bright Ideas” will be presented in the Zelle Drama Room April 15, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m. with a preview dress rehearsal April 14 at 7 p.m. Admission is free for students, faculty and Fine Arts Booster Club patrons and $5 for others. Seating is limited.
