Director and senior theatre major Drew McCabe, the master of playhouse "craic," brings torture, hallucination and mighty acting to UB's experimental stage this weekend as the Department of Theatre and Dance Student Guild performs the wonderfully untamed double feature, "Locus/No Exit" at 190 Alumni Arena.
Appeasing his eccentric demons, McCabe presents his final project in the form of a moral tale, strapped down with a sadistic seatbelt of unmentionables.
On an organizational level, the plays are drastically different, but when paired together, their hellish glimpses and evil-spirited senses of humor reflect a streak-free shine.
"Locus" focuses on the biblical character John the Baptist (played by freshman Greg Pryzbylak). Set "somewhere between the 'Ninth Circle' and the 'Stairway to Heaven,'" the play contorts itself over and over again, while John experiences painful and bizarre hallucinations. His afflicted wife Salome (junior Valerie Yawien) finds herself unable to do anything for her decaying husband as he gags on his own visions.
Clocking in at roughly 35 minutes, "Locus" is about as dense as "Citizen Kane." McCabe pays close attention to detail, often using the depth of his stage to illustrate several meanings simultaneously. The multi-dimensioned canvas of the story and stage yields an ambitious piece that's as powerful as it is disturbing.
"No Exit" takes a dialogue-based approach that sustains a more rigid structure than the invertebrate "Locus."
The play follows journalist Garcin (senior Robert Hinds) as he is introduced to his new stateroom in Hell, and his eternal roommates Inez (junior Lindsay Salamone) and Estelle (sophomore Melissa Pedro). Each of the "damned" reveals an evil past as the face of their current predicament lurks within the shadows.
The simplistic, character-obsessed setup will remind viewers of the mainstream "The Breakfast Club" had it been set in a Satanic realm.
Yet, the Hell presented here is far different than traditional illustrations of the fiery underworld. "No Exit" gives more of an everyday life perspective on Hell that pokes fun at anyone arriving at the theater with a "Dante complex."
"You're going to see some messed up stuff," said Tyger Barros, assistant director for "No Exit."
"In the end, you'll be like 'uhhh...alright.' It's the sort of entertainment you don't see everyday," Barros said. "It has this flavor of hell that's just awesome."
With his rich voice and sinister brow, Hinds promises to carry the play. His co-stars Salamone and Pedro each deliver potent performances that combined with McCabe and Barros' innovative staging, which actually incorporates various styles of Asian theater, create an eerie package of dramatic revelation.
Production for "Locus/No Exit" began in January. After months of preparation, the cast and crew are eager to impart their achievements to UB audiences.
"It was an interesting experience; this stuff is always fun," said sophomore Abbey Mirkin, an actor featured in both halves of the bill. "Drew (McCabe) is always crazy. He makes things a lot more fun than they need to be."
Affectionately dubbed "The Rejection Theatre," 190 Alumni Arena generally houses plays that were rejected by the executive advisory board of the Department of Theatre and Dance. This is not to say the plays adopted by 190 aren't of top quality; they are just, perhaps, too mind shattering for the powers that be.
"The theater stands as a sign of the students' drive, strength, and unity to do what's important to us, even against the odds," McCabe said.
With its intimate setting, "The Rejection Theater" is likely a blessing in disguise as the performers are literally inches from the audience.
"Locus/No Exit" will be performed this Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. as well as Sunday at 2:30 and 5 p.m. Tickets are only $5.
