“Brevity is the soul of WIT.” Not only in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but for Women In Theater this weekend, actors and playwrights skip “tediousness’ limbs and outward flourishes” for twelve one-act plays lasting no more than 10 minutes each. The festival
“Brevity is the soul of WIT.” Not only in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but for Women In Theater this weekend, actors and playwrights skip “tediousness’ limbs and outward flourishes” for twelve one-act plays lasting no more than 10 minutes each. The festival includes over 40 participants (dramaturges, actors, directors) and will last three days with each show featuring different plays at the pristine KCC Performing Arts venue.
The non-profit, all-volunteer community theater group has grown since its inception in May 2001 after a successful production of “Girl Talk.” Two long-time friends, Sandi O’Shaughnessy and Roberta Wallace Cable, formed WIT with the intention of featuring local playwrights, producing classic and contemporary shows with leading roles for women, and creating a mobile company that would focus on acting and writing, rather than elaborate stage sets or costuming. WIT has done just that; with productions such as “Ancestral Voices,” “Proof”, “A Christmas Carol” and the first Hawaiian production of “The Diary of Anne Frank” WIT established its unique and valuable role on Kaua‘i.
The 10-Minute Play festival this weekend features local playwrights who were charged with creating an enthralling tidbit of comedy or drama that could be told with minimal sets or props. Deborah Rice, one playwright in this weekend’s festival is “so appreciative to WIT for giving us the opportunity to do something like this. It is very challenging for any playwright to get anything staged, and even a reading is important… this festival goes beyond,” said Rice, who will be presenting her ‘Woman in A Neck Brace’ starring Ron and Laura Wiley, as well as Chris Fretto.
Rice’s comedy is based loosely on her own experience as a stand-up comic in California and Seattle. Having been involved in theater throughout the 80s, Rice worked as both actor and writer with notable companies such as Edge City Improv and Groundlings in San Francisco and L.A. respectively. Her studies at Evergreen College in Washington state included fairytale and children’s theater, something she hopes to get involved with on Kaua‘i.
Rice is also directing her play, while other festival playwrights are not necessarily directing their shows. “We have been rehearsing for more than a month now, all three of my actors are very talented and most of the time I get to sit back and laugh. It’s really one of the best experiences in theater I’ve had — no backstage drama, just pure fun.”
Secretary of WIT and producer of the festival, Romey Curtis, is wearing three hats: playwright, actor and producer of the show. “I’m going a bit crazy this week,” said Curtis, who is thrilled about the new festival format for WIT. “It was actually Deborah who should be credited with bringing this ten-minute festival idea to us, as she had done something similar on the Mainland.”
Curtis, originally from London, England, has been involved with WIT from the beginning. “This is my first time producing something for WIT of this size, and I’m hoping to make it really fun and joyful.” Curtis explained that WIT was so overwhelmed with response from local playwrights for the ten-minute structure that they changed their original concept to expand and be more inclusive.
Curtis’ own play is the only period piece, set at the turn of the 20th century “perhaps in Paris… the place isn’t really specific.” When thinking about writing a concise one-act, Curtis said “all you can do is present one thing, one surprise. I knew I needed a quick plot, a quick hook and a twist in the end.” Chris Fretto (acting in Rice’s play) is directing Curtis’.
Additional plays to be presented include Arnold Meister’s “High E”, Joy Jobson’s “The Storm” and Laurel Petterson’s “Dance with Me.” Emcee Richard Porto will entertain each evening, introducing each piece “and keeping the feeling upbeat,” said Curtis.
“When WIT does something, everyone pitches in — we all play many roles. It’s fantastic,” said Curtis. Rice feels the format for the festival will produce excellence: “Because everyone was working with such a small amount of time, the focus is really strong, I think you’re going to see some very high quality work.”
