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	Vol.7, No 50, November 24, 1999
	Play more corn than comedy By Tom Harshbarger Daily Forty-Niner "Over the Brink," presented by the Cal State Long Beach University Players, is a series of comedic sketches meant to satirize modern life. While the play shows flashes of potential, it comes off as more corn than comedy.   GRADE: C- The setting of the first scene is a nondescript middle school show featuring a singing group called "The Positeens," who rattle off a "we know how you feel" routine emphasizing staying away from drugs and sex. The lyrics are somewhat funny, but the purpose of the scene's sarcasm gets lost in the translation. This play is definitely intended for a mature audience, having adult language, sexual references and a pot-smoking scene called "The Hard Rock Sanitarium." Eric Weller and David F. Escobedo play amusing music writers who get high to write their music. Writer Ken Payne and director John DeMita probably have a message of some kind in "Over the Brink." Who knows what that is, though? "Over the Brink" contains 18 separate scenes and gets confusing. But the cast does a good job with the material it has. This play could best be summed up by crowd reaction, which was mixed at best. "Over the Brink" will run through Dec. 4, and tickets cost $7. For more information one may call (562) 985-7000.		Unwed couples to get benefits   CSU report shows progress   Return of American-Indian remains one step closer   Student strikes it rich Double- sided racism   Desert road trip relieves stress   LETTER TO THE EDITOR Model graduate   Play more corn than comedy Many candidates but only one gets roasted Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.