Chaffey Theatre Showcase 2022
The Chaffey College Theatre Showcase 2022 closes its last night with colorful performances and heartfelt dialogues
The Theatre Arts Showcase by the Chaffey College Theatre department, directed by Christa Havenhill, closed its final night on Thursday, October 27.
The event was held in Wignall Hall's patio and was furnished with several seats that all had a good view and lights strung across the space.
The show opened with several monologues which were intended to give the students a chance to practice in front of an audience in preparation for future auditions.
The monologues varied from classics like Shakespeare and Macbeth to more modern ones, such as a piece about the death of a dog which struck a chord with most of the audience.
The first part of the showcase gave people in the crowd a chance to see just how much range the actors had.
The second portion of the show featured short scenes with two-three people and had elaborate scenes and well thought out costume choices which told the audience more about the character or if it was a certain decade.
At one point during a scene between the frustrated princes of Rapunzel and Cinderella, coconut-like objects were used to create the sound effects of horses riding away. The creative performances combined with the great lighting that would change color prior to each scene was great at keeping the audience immersed in the show.
Between the short scenes there were songs that also had well-thought out costumes and even featured a scene from Bonnie and Clyde complete with 1930s inspired clothing and props which was very entertaining to watch.
With each scene, there was a certain set-up that would tell the audience where we were. There was a restaurant, a bedroom and a cemetery that was nicely built. This was due to the actors being able to move the set quickly in between the changing scenes which really added to the experience.
The quick scene changes were very fascinating to watch because the base of what was used to create the different scenes looked like different sized wooden boxes. They would then be used to create either table, or a bed which would be filled with props after.
The technical team that was running the lights and sound did not go unnoticed. They really set the mood with how they were choosing the colors shown on the stage in between sets. Even when the mic accidentally went out for a quick moment, the technicians were able to fix it almost immediately.
Overall, the show seemed like it was a great success as the audience would erupt in applause after every scene and every punch-line received copious amounts of laughter.
What one can expect from this show is that it is filled with fun and colorful scenes as well heart-warming moments. Even if one is not that interested in theatre or has never been to a show, this show featured something for everyone and is still very entertaining to watch.
Students should keep an eye out for the future productions from the theatre department as they are sure to not be disappointed. If interested, the department's pamphlet stated that there will be auditions for the 2023 spring production, "The Velveteen Rabbit" on November 15, 16 and 17.