'Talent' brings sensitive issues to stage

Basement Arts, a student-run production company within the University's department of theater and drama, is known for the opportunities it gives student directors. In a dress rehearsal Tuesday night, student playwright Ben Hurvitz watched his work come to life. Hurvitz, who wrote "Twenty-Four Hour Theatre," its untitled sequel and the book for the musical review "Kid Inside," presents "Those Talented." His first full-length play will run tonight through Saturday night.

"Those Talented," directed by Music senior Randi Roland, centers around a group of five friends Ryan (Benjamin Hurvitz), Ahman (Taiwo Okusanya), Carla (Maddy Wyatt), Sabrina (Melissa Grant), Tiger (Heather Weiner) and their journey in finding love and fulfillment after college while facing changing friendships, interracial dating and homosexuality. During this "journey," they also come into contact with Alana (Angela Lewis), Alex (Markitiwa Jackson) and John (Jon Gentry).

The play takes place in a series of episodes and flashbacks. The scenes do not necessarily fold neatly into one another, but each becomes important in developing the plot. Roland describes the play as, "episodic" in which each scene leads toward the progression of the larger sequence of the play.

PREVIEW
	Those Talented Frieze Building Arena Theater Tonight at 7 and 11 p.m.

Though the performance becomes more centered around Ryan and Ahman's relationship than the relationship between the women, the scenes performed by the women add a necessary layer to the play. "Those Talented" tries to maintain a universal appeal by focusing not only on homosexuality, but on the changes in friendships in general.

Maddy Wyatt (Carla) explained that in one of her favorite scenes, "Carla, Sabrina and Tiger are in a restaurant and I have to struggle for power while trying to develop my place in our friendship."

Alana, a poet who Ryan falls in love with after leaving Ahman, also holds an important role in the play. Most of her dialogue is written with a rhythmic beat and tone. This poetry in the midst of dialogue adds another dimension to the play. Alana's life had been difficult and she expresses herself best through spoken poetry. She and Ryan meet as she performs, "A girl with a body and emotion and motion and whoops slipped, I'm falling ... you're there."

Hurvitz was inspired to write the play because of incidences and people in his life.

"I am most motivated by talented people and what they must sacrifice as a result of their own talent."

Hurritz was not originally scheduled to act in the play, but was slotted to fill in after an actor left the show two weeks ago.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Melissa Grant and Heather Weiner star as Sabrina and Tiger in "Those Talented," a film written by student playwright Ben Hurvitz. "Those Talented" begins tonight and will run through Saturday at the Frieze Building Arena Theater.

"I'm the best choice with two weeks left!" he said.

In the future, however, Hurvitz said he hopes to spend the majority of his time on writing and choreography.

The cast marvels at the opportunity to actually work with a playwright.

Music first-year student Markitiwa Jackson said, "It is a good experience. We don't get to work with many playwrights. We are pioneering new characters and that is exciting."

Music sophomore Jon Gentry said, "Many times we see or do the same play over and over and it is challenging to find something new. Here, we give our own take on the play."

Though the play was not purposely performed during Queer Visibility Week, the cast is excited about the impact that it could make on the University community.

"I hope that they can take away from it what Ben intended them to take away from it - the need for people to be loved and in unpredictable, yet compatible relationships," Wyatt said.

Although the script generates a great amount of excitement from the actors, not all of the actors immediately felt comfortable performing in roles so different to their own experiences.

Taiwo Okusanya was initially hesitant to perform in the homosexual role of Ahman. "It's an issue that most people try to stay away from," she said. "I admire Ben for trying to write it. I realized that I couldn't have issues with playing a gay character. That's not what acting is about."

Since the majority of Basement Arts' audience consists of students, Roland thinks that the story will make a greater impression because fellow students interpret the story.

"Students who see this play will be viewing it from a peers perspective," Roland said. "Many students are going through similar issues and coming to grips with changes in their lives. They are learning to break away from old friendships and forming new ones."

"The Basement," as the black box theater is affectionately called, is a haven for experimental work. Students are allowed to use the space in order to develop their work as well as their talent.

"This is really wonderful. If it can't be done in the basement, it won't be done anywhere," cast member Melissa Grant said. "I think that we have an opportunity, through theater, to educate while we entertain and to share our values without preaching."

The cast hopes that the audience will be receptive to the vision of both Roland and Hurvitz in spite of controversial issue surrounding the play.

"I am confident that this play will be closest to my vision," Hurvitz said.

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