[ Golden Gater Online - October 2, 1997 ]
Erwin D. David
Staff Writer
They come every week, gathering outside at room 104 in the Creative Arts building. For some, it's their first show, for others, the process is a weekly ritual. Some see the same performance two or three times during a three-day run. Some come to be enlightened, others just to be entertained.
At noon, every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the Brown Bag Theater Company puts on an one-hour performance that is, performed, directed, produced, and sometimes even written, entirely by SF State students.
On a Wednesday afternoon, theater-goers were welcomed with the hypnotic sounds of an experimental guitar drifting eerily through the dimly-lit stage room.
As soon as the music stopped and the lights went down, an anxious crowd became an enthused audience as their eyes adjusted to the dark and focused on a stark but simple stage set consisting of three cot-like beds.
From the opening scene to the grim final act, last week's show was a testament of the quality productions the Brown Bag Theater Company has established over the last 20 years. The engaging drama, titled "Harper's Song," was written by SF State cinema student Theeus Devitt-Carolan, who graduated last semester, and was directed by SF State theater arts student Paul Anderson, a 24-year old junior whose emphasis is in acting.
"I like directing," Anderson said, "because it's a different type of pressure (than acting.)"
The performance consisted of only three actors (Marty Brown, Mark Larkin and Mike Remak) who played condemned prison inmates on death row who "find friendship and ultimately, redemption between them," according to Anderson.
Since last week's drama dealt with the issues of death and loss, the drama wasn't exactly uplifting, but still managed to appeal to both the young and young at heart.
"I thought the ending was depressing," said Ann Jeremias, an 86-year-old SF State student who enjoys the theater, "but I still found it enjoyable."
"That guy who played Dylan (Brown) was good," said 20-year-old SF State drama student Zeb West. "I also like how simple, yet effective, the set was."
Devitt-Carolan came to view Friday's performance and although he was nervous, he was nonetheless pleased with the production, Anderson said.
The Brown Bag Theater Company (Theater Arts 690), is a demanding five-unit course consisting of 25 aspiring and talented student actors and directors who audition and are chosen by coordinators and advisors Chris Hampton and Rhonnie Washington.
"All actors must act in three roles, two big and one small," said Washington, who had comic actor David Alan Grier under his tutelage at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, "while directors must direct two shows."
All who audition must be SF State students regardless of major. When Brown Bag was introduced more than 20 years ago, it was dubbed as an honors-level course providing a culminating experience for previous arts classes with being in senior-standing as one of its prerequisites. These days, this has not been the case.
"The class has evolved," said Washington. "Students no longer have to be seniors to be in Brown Bag, but I think it would be better for students to wait and gain experience from lower division courses."
According to SF State theater arts student David Owen, a typical week at Brown Bag starts Friday and goes as follows: After a show's final viewing, a "strike" (the technical term for stage break-down), occurs. Soon after that, the company does a "load-in" for the following week's show. The 25 members usually stay from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday is a day to finish what was not done Friday. After the technical aspects of a production such as lights, sound, set, props, are worked out, a run-through Sunday is considered their day off.
On Mondays, members of that week's play do a run-through with costumes, while Tuesdays are critique days when advisors and members are encouraged to give feedback, which may help for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday's show.
"The only way to learn, it is to do it," said Owen. "Brown Bag is the only theater arts course that allows creative freedom."
The Brown Bag Theater got its name from the idea that students could spend their lunch break taking in a production and were allowed to literally bring their brown bag lunches into performances. While this practice is still allowed, it is not encouraged.
In brief, the Brown Bag Theater Company produces popular one-hour theater productions of great one-act and abridged full-length plays. Program changes weekly and showtimes are Wednesday through Friday from noon to 1 p.m. Audiences are advised to arrive a half hour before showtime as seating is limited and admission is free. For more information call (415) 338-1341.
[ Golden Gater - October 02, 1997 ]