Graham Becerra, Angela Mendez, Ellen Shamas-Brandt and Sarah J. Baker featured in latest New Directors Showcase

Vintage Theatre on June 29 presented its New Directors Showcase to an enthusiastic group of theatre lovers and professionals. Introduced by Vintage Artistic Director Bernie Cardell, the evening consisted of four short plays led by first-time directors, each of whom had a professional director as mentor. It was a successful introduction to four new directors, showcasing their solid capabilities along with the opportunity to see some works by local playwrights.

Opening the evening was This Side of the Room by Dakota Hill, confidently directed by Graham Becerra. After meeting in a local pick-up joint, the tension between Aaron (Andy Anderson) and Sean (Kyle Lawrence) was palpable as they nervously danced around Aaron’s living room. Becerra’s blocking indicated extreme tension enveloping the scene, which was magnified when it was discovered that Aaron’s partner of many years had been asleep in the next room. Becerra admirably captured this slice-of-life scenario in the script with believable dialogue and situations. The directing mentor was Lorraine Scott.

Paradise Lost by Jeffrey Neuman was the second play, aptly directed by Angela Mendez. The script took several bizarre twists as it unfolded. Married couple Mary and John, played by Amalia Ritter Adiv and Arthur McFarle, sat center stage for most of the short interlude. As directed by Mendez, the actors played off each other well with solid intentions about the mysterious doorbell that John did not want to answer. The director captured a surprise ending just moments before the lights went off, ending the scene. The directing mentor was Heather Frost.

The third entry of the evening, Carlene Yakkin’, by Melissa Lucero McCarl and compellingly directed by Ellen Shamas-Brandt. This was perhaps the most challenging play to stage. It was comprised of a monologue from Carlene (Stephanie Dees) and introduced by the Narrator/Bartender (Fabian Vasquez) set in a run-down watering hole imagined somewhere off the interstate. Play-length monologues can be challenging in maintaining audience interest. However, in this case, Shamas-Brandt used the actor in such a personal fashion that she presented a compelling story to the engaged audience. In a nice bit of action, Vasquez, as the bartender, is busily occupied during Carlene’s monologue in closing the bar without stealing the focus from Dees.  The directing mentor was Bernie Cardell.

The final play presented was Pleasant by Scott Gibson, deftly directed by Sarah J. Baker. In a classic first-date scenario, we are introduced to Janet (Maya Ferrario) and Teddy (Kyle Lawrence) in the front seat of his car as they start with the niceties of a first meeting. Baker captured the right amount of tension between Janet and Teddy with hilarious overtones in an often-sweaty palm scene. The directing mentor was Linda Suttle.

Vintage Theatre’s ongoing Showcase events is a great way to discover the next generation of directors. Putting your finger on good directing versus something that may be subpar is not the most straightforward task. But it is something you know when you see it, and these four look as if they’ll go on to future successful directing assignments in our community.