Morbid
questions answered Kane's dark, moody 'Crave'
Crave:
Playwright, Sarah Kane embarks on a major
effort to give answers to deep-seated human
fears in a new production.
By
Jack Schneider
On-line Forty-Niner
FULLERTON--
A simple answer to what is love, death or
pain is usually hard to find. Many playwrights
have used their own voices to try and unlock
the mysteries behind this question, but
none have come close to the approach Sarah
Kane used in her dynamic drama, "Crave,"
now playing at the Hunger Artists Theater
Company in Fullerton.
It
is a play with no boundaries, no plot, and
a plethora of intangible conversations from
four great actors. The stories of lust,
death, deception and infatuation intertwine
and detach from the other actors, creating
a blurry and ambiguous premise. Each character
in the play is named after a specific letter
of the alphabet, which seemed to mesh vibrant
personalities with obscure dialogues.
"Crave,"
directed by Todd Kulczyk, included the characters'
A (Mark Palkoner), a melancholy, overweight
man who talks about bleak passion and the
heartache that comes along with attraction
to an anonymous woman. M (Kristina Leach),
a trash-talking sassy woman, who covered
topics like suffering from insomnia. C (Catherine
Drummond) who expressed suicidal fantasies
while questioning her life's sorrows. B
(Mark Coyan), a middle-aged man, who expressed
his addiction to cigarettes and alcohol.
The
actors offered believable emotion in both
individual and ensemble movements. The characters
each dressed in white shirts and lime-green
pants sitting in plain wooden chairs. As
the conversations and thoughts flowed, all
actors constantly shifted throughout their
stations, reflecting the evocative mood
of the cast. Palkoner gave a great portrayal
of his character, whose voice was clear
and powerful, revealing the unconventionality
of Kane's unique script.
Kane
described her unique style of writing as
"thinning the line between song, poetry
and the normal play format we have become
so accustomed to." She blended these
styles of playwriting in a chaotic sequence.
One
minute, M and B would strike up a conversation
about an abusive relationship, and the next
all four actors would stomp on the floor,
signifying the end of the conversation.
A
unique and exciting drama, "Crave"
is very original, but at times very morbid.
The play heavily touched on the topics of
suicide, rape and substance abuse. Most
may find the unconventionality of the play
groundbreaking, while some might not be
ready, or able to take in the avant-garde
style of the script.
Impressionable
scenes from the play, along with great acting
from the cast is sure to stick in the minds
of audiences for a long time.
What:
"Crave"
When: 8 p.m., Fri. & Sat.; 7 p.m. Sun.
through Sept. 28
Where: Hunger Artist Theater Company 699-A
S. State College Blvd. Fullerton, CA
(714) 680-6803
$10-$15
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