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Bullying and Schoolyard Trauma Play Comes to Jersey City
By: A.A. Cristi Oct. 09, 2017
Few fears seem as intense as those experienced in childhood, and often those fears that linger through your entire life.
Schoolyard trauma is the subject of The Enforcer, a critically acclaimed solo-show by Glynn Borders, writer, actor and former special effects director for David Letterman, presented by Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) as the next installment of its Fear series.
JCTC selects topics global in scope yet relevant to the community then explores that theme using visual arts, theater, dance, monologues, and other performances. With Fear, JCTC looks at the personal, cultural and political impact of fright and how Fear can sometimes paralyze while other times encourage us to overcome threats and obstacles. The Enforcer runs for two nights, October 19 and October 20, at Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Avenue. Performances will be followed by a Talk-Back with audiences
A hit at several festivals, including the Midtown International Theater Festival, The Enforcer takes place in a fifth grade class during an era when corporal punishment was acceptable. While looking back at a disturbing incident from his past, Borders explores the power relationships between three characters: student Lonnie Pierson; his bully, Joseph Smith; and their teacher, Mr. Moorehouse. The actor becomes each character, taking audiences on an unforgettable, darkly comic and always suspenseful, psychological journey, in what has been described a tour-de-force of writing and acting.
About The Enforcer, Theater Mania declared: "Borders' tale seems almost scarily true-to-life, and his performance is captivating. He dexterously moves from character to character without blinking, drawing vivid portraits of youngsters and adults who could easily be the people sitting next to us... Borders' writing is just as sharp, shifting from laugh-out-loud comedy to surprisingly dark drama in similarly natural ways, and he brings the piece to a thrilling, unforgettable conclusion."
I Outer-Stage, an Independent Journal of Theater and Film Reviews, Natasha Dawsen writes, "Glynn Borders is a fine writer and charismatic performer... Comic moments and characterizations are peppered throughout the story."
Last September, Borders retired as the Special Effects Director for the LATE SHOW with Stephen Colbert. Prior to that, he worked with David Letterman for 21 years. As a member of the stagehand's union, Local One, Borders supervised effects on other TV shows including, Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien and Rosie O'Donnell. He is honored to have worked on several Broadway Shows as well. Glynn is a member of the Dramatist Guild. Borders studied theater at the Boars Head Theater company in Lansing, Michigan, the Hartman Theater Conservatory in Stamford, Connecticut, (Artistic director, Gene Frankel) and the Gene Frankel Theater, New York, New York. He also participated in the playwright's workshop at the New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater, led by Ed Bullins. Borders studied solo performance with Matt Hoverman.
The Enforcer
Thursday/October 19/ 8:00pm-10:00pm / Merseles Studios
(Doors open at 7:30/includes Talk-Back)
Fridayy/October 20/ 8:00pm-10:00pm / Merseles Studios
(Doors open at 7:30/includes Talk-Back
(to purchase tickets visit: www.JCTCenter.org)
Jersey City Theater Center
Merseles Studios
339 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 795-5386
Fear and The Enforcer was also made possible through the generosity of Ben LoPiccolo Development Group, JCTC's Board of Directors, private donors and local Jersey City businesses.
Jersey City Theater Center, Inc. (JCTC) presents programming at Merseles Studios and White Eagle Hall. JCTC is a nonprofit, 501c3 arts organization committed to inspiring conversations about the important topics of our times through innovative and progressive performing and visual arts that celebrates diversity, bringing communities closer together and enhancing the quality of life.
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