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| Margo Hall as Pam confronts Michael J. Asberry as Arnold in the teachers lunchroom. |
In a scenario that’s becoming all too familiar in
underfunded school districts across the county, a crumbling high school in a
rundown Chicago neighborhood is slated for closure and demolition immediately
after the last day of the current school year.
That’s the premise of Ike Holter’s “Exit Strategy,”
presented by Aurora Theatre Company.
In this fictional school, the teachers must buy
their own supplies. Its only administrator, so it seems, is the vice principal,
Ricky (Adam Niemann). Only 30 years old, he’s in over his head when dealing
with the teachers.
They include the older, more experienced Pam (Margo
Hall) and Arnold (Michael J. Asberry,) who’s also the union rep.
Closer to Ricky in age are Jania (Gabriella
Fanuele), Sadie (Sam Jackson) and Luce (Ed Gonzalez Moreno), Ricky’s boyfriend.
They all seem resigned to the school’s fate until a
savvy black senior, Donnie (Tre’Vonne Bell), galvanizes them and other students
into action designed to resist the closure.
Although the situation is realistic, several factors
undermine its effectiveness.
First is the play itself, in which some characters,
such as Donnie, are stereotyped. Then there’s the direction by Aurora’s new
artistic director, Josh Costello. He allows too much yelling and hyperactivity.
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| Gabriella Fanuele is Jania and Adam Niemann is Ricky. |
This is especially true of Niemann’s Ricky, whose
performance is often so high-pitched, even hysterical, that there’s no room for
subtlety or introspection.
That’s in sharp contrast to the far more grounded
characterizations by Hall as Pam and Asberry as Arnold.
The flexible set is by Kate Boyd, with lighting by
Stephanie Anne Johnson, sound by James Ard and costumes by Maggie Whitaker.
Running about an hour and 45 minutes with no
intermission, “Exit Strategy” will continue through Sept. 29 at Aurora Theatre,
2081 Addison St, Berkeley.
For tickets and information, call (510) 843-4822 or
visit www.auroratheatre.org.
Photos by
David Allen
