BWW Reviews: NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE Gives Young Directors A Chance

Cabot Community Theatre's NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE opens this Friday at the Cabot School Performing Arts Center.

As the name implies, the NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE is designed to offer young, aspiring directors a chance to build their skills and gain experience. The show is a series of six one-act plays, which vary widely in both subject and execution.

While the entire showcase is appropriate for families, the first half is geared specifically towards children, not only in the audience but on stage as well. Although the cast of the NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE spans across all ages, the actors present in the first half are nearly all children, with a few minor exceptions.

Opening the show is BEWARE THE JABBERWOCK, written by Ron Nicol and directed by Maggie Palmiero, which plays like Lewis Carroll wrote The Wizard of Oz. Two young sisters get separated in the Tulgey Wood and must find their way back to each other, even as the characters of the famous poem "The Jabberwocky" appear to have come to life.

This is clearly a show for children, by children. The set is brightly colored, the story kid-centric, and the actors generally very young. The result is a little unpolished to say the least, but this is not too great a drawback, as the target audience members are youngsters as well. Moreover, mishaps are minimized by pairing more experienced actors with those with less experience, in what appears to be a conscious choice. The former help to guide the latter, and prevent too many uncomfortable moments. Leo Parlo and Lila Stratton, in particular, do an excellent job of this, staying in character and shepherding their charges.

The next one-act matures a little in its subject matter while still remaining friendly and engaging for the younger set. IT, directed by Clara Mueller-Harder, is very elegant in its simplicity and humor while also offering a profound thought or two. The play centers around a modern art piece, known only as "it," and the people who gaze upon it. We see a delightfully awkward boy and a girl who does not appear to reciprocate his feelings towards her, a college student babysitting a terrible child, a grandfather and his grandchildren, reminiscing about the past, and an elderly couple, living their lives.

The quality of the acting in this short play is very good, perhaps because of how relatable the characters are, in an everyman kind of way. There are no particular standouts, but in this show that is no drawback, as it allows the characters to flow together without one stealing the stage over another.

The third and final one-act of the first half is BIG NOSE, written by DM Larson and directed by Lori Augustyniak and Leo Parlo. This is a rather bizarre play centering around a self-styled theater critic with a rather large nose. One night, after critiquing a particularly terrible play particularly loudly, the critic finds himself on stage, causing general havoc.

The NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE'S version of BIG NOSE seems like great fun to be in, if the enthusiasm of the actors is any indication. The show is a lighthearted comedy, played by people who are clearly reveling in the jokes, and the result is quite enjoyable.

The second half of the NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE is more adult based, featuring a greater number of older actors and more sophisticated source material. Starting things off is THE NOT-SO-PRIVATE-PROPOSAL, written by Stephanie Kelsh and directed by Megan Walker. This cheerful romp of a show centers around an exasperated couple, desperately trying to privately get engaged in a house full of swarming family members. The family members in question are conducting a seance and attempting to summon the ghost of Abigail Adams, an endeavor which does not exactly lend itself to peace and quiet.

This production of THE NOT SO PRIVATE PROPOSAL is characterized by both seamless directing and great acting. Adam Blachly and Maggie Palmiero are solidly good as the soon-to-be betrothed, but the real star of the show is acerbic younger sister Emily, played with aplomb by Abigail Walker, a hilariously grounding counterpart to the earnest young lovers. Also lending motherly gravitas and a touch of eccentricity is Lori Augustyniak as the seance-conducting Aunt Kate.

The final one-act of the NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE is the best. THE ACTOR'S NIGHTMARE, written by Christopher Durang and directed by Adam Blachly, is the tale of an accountant mistaken for an actor's understudy and forced to perform a play in which he has absolutely no idea what is going on.

This production of THE ACTOR'S TALE does a fantastic job of running smoothly while conveying the idea of a play in utter chaos. As things get progressively stranger, the cast functions as a tight unit, slinging the dryly humorous lines to perfection and great success. Blachly's directing also shines, creating a dynamic and energetic production. This show is a fabulous way to end the night and is well worth the wait.

THE NEW DIRECTIONS SHOWCASE continues its run until Sunday, March 29 at 2 PM. Click HERE for more information.

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