One Act Play Festival's first `wave' makes splash at Artists' Exchange

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 7/27/16

Where can you see nine one-act plays that will make you cry and laugh, put you in suspense, and tug on your heart strings? That was the case over the weekend as Theatre 82 on Rolfe Square in Cranston hosted its One Act Play Festival,

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One Act Play Festival's first `wave' makes splash at Artists' Exchange

Posted

Where can you see nine one-act plays that will make you cry and laugh, put you in suspense, and tug on your heart strings?

That was the case over the weekend as Theatre 82 on Rolfe Square in Cranston hosted its One Act Play Festival, which continues this coming weekend.

The 11th annual festival’s “Wave 1” continues through July 30, with “Wave 2” to run from Aug. 5 to Aug. 13. Community actors are performing 17 original one-act plays written by local and national playwrights whose works were selected from over 1,100 total submissions. All plays are rated PG-13.

Nine original short plays were performed in “Wave 1,” including the work of four Rhode Island writers – Simone Pellegrino of Cranston, Andy Accioli of Warwick, Lauren Annicelli of East Greenwich, and Emily Norklun of South Kingstown. New this year is live music during the plays, with Tom Chace on piano and Raffi Donoian on guitar.

Several performances stood out, such as “All Grown Up,” which was written, directed, and performed by 10-year-old Simone Pellegrino and Lauren Annicelli. They created a mentoring program, with Pellegrino working alongside of Annicelli. The performance featured a grown-up talking to her younger self.

The dark comedy “The Suicide Coaster,” directed by Jessica Chace and written by Bridgette Dutta Bortman, was about a family waiting in line for the newest roller coaster at Rocky Point Park. As they make their way through the line, they realize that no one was getting off the coaster. They decide to go on the ride, and the show closes with the entire ensemble on stage singing the old Rocky Point theme song.

“Each performance explores time and how it affects our lives and relationships, even in death. Time can be our friend who saves us from getting a ticket, or our enemy who traps us in an unspeakable fate. Time can transport us to far-off fantasies or the memories of our childhood. Time can seem to move too fast or too slow – sometimes even stop,” said artistic director Jessica Chace.

What stood out most was the quality of the writing, directing, and performances.

“There’s something for everyone in this versatile lineup – quirky and dark comedies, suspense and drama, and an ensemble piece that just might make you reconsider going onto a roller coaster,” Chace said.

The directors are Lauren Annicelli, Chace, music director Tom Chace, and David Kane. They are working with 30 actors ranging from ages 10 to 80 with different abilities.

“The Artists’ Exchange is all about inclusion and opportunity for everyone,” Chace said.

The final Wave 1 performances are set for 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A beer and wine cash bar is available before and during the show.

For information and to buy tickets, call 490-9475 or visit artists-exchange.org.

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ACTING OUT:

Pictured is the cast of “The Suicide Coaster,” a dark comedy about a family waiting in line for the newest roller coaster at Rocky Point Park. (Herald photos by Steve Popiel)

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ALL GROWN UP:

“All Grown Up” was written, directed, and performed by 10-year-old Simone Pellegrino and Lauren Annicelli.

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