By Miguel A. Gastelum
University Theatre presents their final virtual production of the 2020-21 season with David Ives’ “All in the Timing,” a witty, romantic, absurd and existentially-minded evening of theatre. Directed by J. Daniel Herring, the production was filmed in the John Wright Theatre in conjunction with the Department of Media, Communications, and Journalism. It will stream online at 7:30 p.m. June 4-5 and June 8-12 and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 6. Streaming access is $15 for general admission and $10 for students.
“The production takes place in an avant-garde abstract comedic world,” Herring said. “Each of the six one act plays exist in a Twilight Zone-type world in which everyday reality is only present in very specific moments. It is a wacky, farcical depiction of problems and issues we face in our lives such as sticking one’s foot in one’s mouth, feeling isolated, bemoaning a lost love or just having a bad day.”
In “Sure Thing,” a couple on a first date has the opportunity to reset and try again each time they say the wrong thing.
“Words, Words, Words,” takes the infinite monkey theorem — the idea that given enough time, three monkeys in a room could eventually compose any given text, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet — and turns it into reality.
In “The Universal Language,” a shy young woman places her faith in her fraudulent language tutor, who is changed for the better when he discovers is the language they share: not the made-up “Unamunda” professes to be fluent in, but rather the language of love.
“Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread,” is an existential mini-musical parody based on the work of composer Philip Glass.
In “The Philadelphia.” a man discovers that he’s entered a strange pocket of the universe where the only way to get what he wants is to ask for the opposite.
Finally, in “Variations on the Death of Leon Trotsky,” the audience is treated to the hilarious vision of the famous Marxist waxing poetic — and dying, over and over and over again.
“This production has a feel of Saturday Night Live and other variety show sketches,” Herring said. “Emerging from this pandemic, it just felt right to me to present a bit of fun layered with some serious notes, but not too serious. The student actors embraced these intriguing characters and far fetched situations with flare, authenticity and comic timing. And, we all snickered a lot.”
The production was rehearsed and filmed following strict federal, state, and university protocols to ensure a safe, clean, and socially-distant production environment.
The cast includes Santiago Batista, Lexie Castellanos, Nicole Faulconer, Reese Jade Herron, Duncan Hoge, Cassidy LeClair, Rachel Maciel, Ethan Magill, Sofia Sabine McCurry, Andrew Mickelson, Dylan Mark Murphy, Tyler Murphy, Luke R. Nothstein, Julia Prieto, Carlos Sanchez and Andy Souk.
For more information, contact the box office at 559.278.7512 or universitytheatre@csufresno.edu.
The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State 