"Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker."
Disagreement with Ogden Nash's advice is hard to find this time of year, when students are overloaded with papers, exams, and the impending holiday season. For those seeking a mini-break from their work, 3Ps presents Reflections on Ice-Breaking today and tomorrow in Balch Arena Theater.
The title of this collection of four plays, inspired by Nash's clever rhyme, reflects the relationship theme of the works by playwright David Ives. First-time director, sophomore Dave Medeiros, chose the four primarily for each play's comedic nature.
Medeiros has ample experience as an actor at Tufts, with plays like A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Doll's House, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Merry Wives of Windsor to his credit. As a fan of comedies, he looked for humor when flipping through possible scripts, and when he read Ives' work, he knew he had hit on a winner. "Even the scripts are absolutely hilarious," he said.
Despite the unifying comedic theme, there is great variety among the plays. The first performance, "Time Flies," revolves around a budding romance between two mayflies, who, upon realizing their love, discover their impending mortality while watching a television nature special.
This quirky comedy is followed by "Soap Opera." In the exaggerated manner of a true soap opera, Ives' piece tells the dramatic love story of a "Maypole" repairman and his washing machine. Inspired by television's Maytag commercials, Ives conveys the crazy affection of man for his machines.
Next comes "Foreplay," a tale of Chuck's varying successes at seduction on a mini-golf course. At the end of the evening comes "English Made Simple," a play Medeiros calls "golden" - though he says each play has its "particular elements." Based on the principle that the first three minutes of conversation determine the course of a relationship, the show's last play offers a crash course on introducing yourself.
Although each story offers a distinct perspective, Ives characteristic use of humor is ever-present. Entertaining on many levels, the playwright employs slapstick, situational comedy, and irony that will please a variety of audiences. Medeiros says he appreciates Ives' "true to life" observations and witty repartee, such as Horace the mayfly's comments about the "filth on TV," or the Maypole repairman's remarks that men are "appliances in the services of a higher power."
The hilarity of the writing is well played by the small cast. Indeed, despite the many difficulties of a minor presentation with little rehearsal time (the cast wasn't chosen until mid-October and was unable to set up in the Arena until yesterday), Medeiros says he is "presently surprised" by the way the plays have come together. As a minor production offering free admission, Reflections has virtually no budget for such niceties as costumes, but the actors have improvised with ingenious costumes involving hooks, hats, stripes, and putters.
The result is a highly amusing break from studying that will let you join in the Maypole repairman's ruminations on "the assembly line of fate," and laugh at May the mayfly's complaints about "a quickie."
The 3Ps minor production Reflections on Ice-Breaking will show at Balch Arena Theater tonight at 8:30 p.m., and tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.
