MICHELE KOLE
Staff Writer

“Once in a Lifetime,” the 1930s comedy by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, made its FDU premiere last month. The production was a fragmented one, due to an unbalanced cast, direction that was somewhat disappointing, semi-attractive set design and gorgeous costumes.
The play revolves around three East Coast vaudevillians, May, Jerry and George, who are washed up performers. They decide to head out to Hollywood and teach the film stars how to speak on screen - a new technological phenomenon during this time period.
Once in Hollywood, they learn that the Hollywood mindset is very different from their own and they struggle to adjust.
The stars of FDU’s production of “Once in a Lifetime” are mostly quite good. Cindy Fernandez embraces May’s dry humor but more importantly she recognizes the vulnerability that fuels said humor. As a result, there is a stark difference between May and those people buying into the Hollywood mindset.
Doug Berrie plays Jerry and proves he is a master physical comedian. However, he does little to develop Jerry into a fully fleshed out human being and that makes it difficult to believe May would fall for Jerry.
Lucy Fisher is positively adorable as Susan. She makes the self-centered Susan into a likeable and funny character, particularly when Susan is attempting to act.
Chris Dimoulas makes an impressive stage debut as George. Dimoulas does not make George into a stereotypical dumb guy, but instead has chosen to play him as a naïve man trying to make sense of the world around him.
Alex Boruff steals the show as Herman Glogauer. Boruff totally commits to his larger-than-life character. In fact, Boruff seems to be channeling a comedic version of Roy Cohn in “Angels in America.”
Allison Carr, as usual, is very funny. Carr plays Lorna Vail, an underused playwright. Carr’s usage of non-verbal commentary on her surroundings is almost funnier than the lines Kaufman and Hart have given her.
As Vail’s archnemesis, the receptionist, Miss Leighton, Rosemary Glennon makes the most of her small part. Her dramatic exits are a highlight of the show.
Joe Marra is also quite entertaining as Kammerling, a German film director. He is reminiscent of S.Z. Sakall from the old MGM movies.
Amanda Hagar is believably obnoxious as Helen Hobart.
The rest of the cast plays small parts and it must be mentioned that Kirsten Johnson, Angeline-Rose Troy, Chaelee Chaput, Kristin Fulton, Matt Blum and Alex Pepperman are all memorable in their roles.
However, the other cast members do next to nothing with their parts.
These small parts are a major part of “Once in a Lifetime” and because these other cast members make no impression the show seems absurdly unbalanced.
James Glossman’s direction is quite uneven. Glossman has embraced the larger-than-life aspects of the show and most of the time that works. However, he misses opportunities to give the audience a break from that. A few quiet moments in the show would have made the funny ones even funnier. It also must be noted that Glossman’s blocking of the show is very comical, though at times it seems the cast does not understand their director’s intention with the blocking.
Drew Francis, production designer, had sets that ranged from disappointing (there was next to no scenery in the first Hollywood scene) to beautiful (Miss Leighton’s waiting room is simple but wonderful). The costumes by Bettina Bierly are stunning. It was worth seeing the show just for the costumes.
“Once in a Lifetime” could have been a stronger production, but ultimately, there were some great performances, interesting direction, and lovely costumes.

MICHELE KOLE
Staff Writer

The next show to play at FDU’s Dreyfuss Theatre is Kaufman and Hart’s “Once in a Lifetime.” The 1930s comedy centers around three washed up vaudevillians who decide to head out to Hollywood to teach an elocution class for film actors. At this point in history, the first talking film, “The Jazz Singer,” had just premiered and film actors had never spoken in their work before.
When the vaudevillians, Jerry, May and George arrive in Hollywood, they encounter Susan Walker, an untalented aspiring actress, her over-bearing mother, a powerful gossip columnist, as well as other assorted high-strung, larger-than-life film industry inhabitants.
“Once in a Lifetime” features a talented cast full of FDU main-stage veterans as well as newcomers. Cindy Fernandez, who starred as Adelaide in last semester’s production of “Guys and Dolls,” will star as May.
Doug Berrie, whose FDU theater credits include “Guys and Dolls” and “Three Sisters,” will tackle the role of Jerry.
Chris Dimoulas, a recent newcomer to the FDU stage, will play George, and sophomore Lucy Fisher will play Susan.
The cast is thrilled to be a part of this production. Junior Georgia Goetz, who will play Mrs. Walker, is especially anxious. Goetz said, “This is my first production here at FDU, so I’m excited to entertain my peers.”
Fisher, who plays her daughter, is also ecstatic to be a part of “Once in a Lifetime.” Fisher said, “I’m very excited to play Susan. I feel like she’s a character I can relate to.”
While Susan is not the brightest bulb in the pack, Fisher is having a great time playing the airhead. When asked what her inspiration for the role was, Fisher answered, “Anna Faris in ‘The House Bunny.’”
In addition to the cast’s shared enthusiasm for the show, the cast also shares the joy of working with first-time FDU director James Glossman. Berrie commented, “James Glossman is a joy to work with. He does push us hard, but he has us laughing during every rehearsal.”
According to the cast, Glossman has an out-of-the-box approach to directing that works for the cast. Goetz added, “Jim is an interesting guy. Somewhat unpredictable, but he always keeps us on our toes.”
According to many cast members, Glossman keeps them laughing because he truly understands comedy. Fisher explained Glossman’s approach to directing the comedy: “He’ll do impressions of how you should do it, and he’ll make you laugh. He’ll show you what’s funny and what isn’t.”
Freshman James Michaelson said, “Jim is a mastermind of comedy and comebacks. He is hilarious and wonderful to work with. You will never win a battle of wits with him.”
The talented cast and the quirky director are bound to make “Once in a Lifetime” a must see production. According to Layhmah Cisco, who will make her FDU stage debut in the production, “This show is incredibly funny. I find myself laughing at things that have been rehearsed constantly because they just get funnier every time.”
Perhaps Michaelson makes the best, but certainly not the most eloquent, case for seeing “Once in a Lifetime.” He said you should see the production if you “feel like urinating all over yourself from laughing too hard.”
“Once in a Lifetime” opens on Wednesday, Nov. 18 and will play through the 21st at 8 p.m. The final performance will be on Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets for the FDU community are $5 and general admission is $10.
Log onto www.fduarts.org for more information.

Fairleigh Dickinson University’s College at Florham recently performed the R-rated cult rock ’n’ roll musical, “The Rocky Horror Show,” in the Dreyfuss Theatre.

As the show’s playbill asked, was Madison ready for the sweet transvestite from Transylvania? FDU professor Stephen Hollis certainly thought so.

“We sold out almost every night,” he said. “Saturday night sold out for the first time in a long time.”
The show, directed by Hollis, was performed April 2 through April 5 at 8 p.m. with additional performances April 11 at 11 p.m. and April 12 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices were $5 for students and others in the FDU community and $10 for everyone else.

“After the many years of students begging me to put on this production, I have finally decided to do it,” said Hollis in an FDU press release. “The play is notorious for its audience participation throughout and participation is both expected and encouraged.”

In addition to audience participation, “The Rocky Horror Show” is known for its quirky humor. The expected audience participation was clearly present. If students were to walk by the Dreyfuss Theatre on a performance night, for example, they would most likely hear the audience shouting expletives at the innocent young lovers, Brad and Janet.

“The Rocky Horror Show” was first produced in 1973 in London and then, after two previews, premiered in 1974 at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, according to the FDU Web site. After that, the show made its way to Broadway. In 1975, the play was made into a smash hit movie starring prominent cast members such as Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-n-Furter, Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, and Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, according to the University’s Web site.

Written by Richard O’Brien, the play begins “on a dark stormy night in the 1950s, where super-square Brad Majors and his innocent fiancée Janet Weiss seek refuge in a mysterious castle,” according to the Playbill. The mysterious castle turns out to be the residence of the bizarre transvestite, Dr. Frank-n-Furter, who forever changed the lives (and libidos) of the young couple. Throughout the play, the characters kept the audience entertained with the silly antics performed.

The hilarious cast was made up of more than 15 characters and over 25 production staff members. Some of the main characters were played by FDU’s David Storicks (Frank-n-Furter), Michelle Cabot (Janet), Matthew Sullivan (Brad), Adam Maffei (Rocky), Andrew Gaul (Narrator), Tyler Morrill (Riff Raff), Sarah Carr (Usherette/Magenta) and Karla Yeamans (Columbia).

The April 5 performance had almost every seat in the Dreyfuss Theatre filled with parents, students and other FDU community members.

Carly Langer, a FDU student who attended the April 3 performance, truly enjoyed the show.
“I loved it! I thought the acting was great, and it was so funny. I loved how the audience could interact; it really made the show an enjoyable and exciting experience.”

The next production at the University’s Theatre will be “The Graduate” under the direction of Rob Barron. It will be held May 7 through May 11, and, as always, student tickets will be $5.

KAYLA HASTRUP
News Editor