Scenes From The Staten Island
Ferry
2007
Michael Somogyi, Cynthia Osuji, and Kathleen Schlemmer
Michael Burke, Tina Barone, and Tim Kelly
(photos: Sundog Theatre)
“What happens on the
Ferry, stays on the Ferry” is not exactly
the viewpoint taken by Staten Island’s
Sundog Theatre when it presents its fifth
year of brand new plays about our favorite
boats.
“The Staten Island Ferry is a microcosm of
life, and what goes on there is pretty
intriguing,” states Sundog’s artistic
director, Susan Fenley. “The Ferry is its
own world, and like any good theatre we are
here to represent that world. Just the
other day, a couple was married on the
Ferry. People begin and sometimes
unfortunately end their lives on the Ferry
– everything happens there,” she continues.
Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry, an
annual presentation for Sundog Theatre, is
a project that began in 2003 when Sundog
first experimented with the concept of
24-hour plays. The project was very
successful gaining the attention of Island
audiences and artists and now the Theatre
creates it new every year--with a different
twist each time. One year, writers had to
incorporate a specific item into the play
such as a trophy, a dog leash, or a stuffed
animal. “It’s amazing what a creative story
can be created around a simple prop. This
method also gives writers ideas and peaks
their imaginations,” explains Ms. Fenley.
Another year, each playwright wrote his/her
piece around a designated holiday. One year
they were each given a time of day so the
entire evening of plays took place during
different times of one day. This year,
playwrights will incorporate one of life’s
turning points into their play. The Theatre
can’t say what they are because it is
classified until the day of writing.
Sundog hires six playwrights, six
directors, and 14 actors for the project.
Each writer creates a play around two or
three pre-auditioned actors whose pictures
s/he receives that evening. Playwrights
then have 24 hours to write a one-act play
that depicts life on the Staten Island
Ferry, using those actors. The actors and
directors then have one afternoon to put it
all together with staging, rehearsal,
costumes, and props. Sundog presents the
plays for a total of five performances over
two weekends.
Island artists involved in this year’s
Scenes…’07 include Joe Daly, Tim Kelly,
Michael Somogyi, award winning writer Linda
Nieves-Powell, and more. Selected writers,
directors, and actors from Manhattan and
Brooklyn are also involved in the project.
Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry ‘07
opens March 10, 2007 at Christ Episcopal
Church Theatre at 76 Franklin Avenue in
Staten Island and plays through March
18
Impacting lives in 25 minutes
6 plays about all that can happen during a trip on the ferry continue this weekend at Christ Episcopal Church
Friday, March 16, 2007
By LISA ANN WILLIAMSON
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
Life can change on the Staten Island Ferry.
In the 25 minutes it takes to cross the harbor, love can be found, careers launched, lives saved, a connection established between a mother and the child she never knew.
Last week, 14 actors, six writers and six directors brought world premieres of six plays in "Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry '07" at Christ Episcopal Church, New Brighton. Performances continue tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. This year marks the fifth annual Ferry Scenes presented by Sundog Theatre.
What is remarkable is that these scripts did not exist three days before the performance and that they were presented with care and precision. There were no lingering reminders to "have mercy" because the actors only had two days to develop characters, not to speak of learning the script.
The writers, Joseph Daly, Sheri Graubert, Linda Nieves-Powell, Nancy Rogers, Lee Sakellerides and Joseph Jude Zito, had 24 hours to establish a beginning, middle and end to a story for their characters. In just over 90 minutes, six stories unfolded. And depending on what you're in the mood for, "Scenes" offers a love story, comedy and drama.
This is a must-see for several reasons. The concept is simple: Use one of Staten Island's most visible resources as a setting and write about life. The genius is in how that life takes twists and turns in the 25-minute ride. It's a mental and creative exercise where time constraints loom. While 15 minutes is not enough time to explore the complexities of the human condition, it is plenty of time to entertain and provoke thought.
While the entire crew is to be commended, there are some standouts, including Bill McVey, who portrays David, a screenwriter who has a secret dream of living in the country with his soul mate. Cathy O'Hare tenderly speaks in soliloquy about her former life as a young actress. Tina Barone is a hoot as the ferry "Queen for a Day" after she won a contest.
The set stays the same -- two wooden ferry seats, a gated area and an exit with a nautical wheel at the center -- but the stories and the characters change every 15 minutes when it's time for another show. This is what can come from a nugget of an idea. What a fun evening of theater. Every day on the ferry, strangers meet and some have meaningful conversations. Some may even teach you something or help resolve a problem.
"Scenes from the Staten Island Ferry" is art skillfully reflecting life.
© 2007 Staten Island Advance
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