The NECC theatre program had their first performance of the semester, “All in the Timing” by David Ives.
The play was performed from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5 at The Chester H. Hawrylciw Theatre on the third floor of the Spurk Building on the Haverhill campus.
On Friday evening, the president’s performance, producer and co-director Theater Professor Brianne Beatrice told the audience, “There were 95 tickets sold.”
The performance was emotional, eccentric, and thought-provoking.
The cast of this six-act play included current NECC students Naima Eve, Mirrorajah Metcalfe, Ben Swanney, Devin Michaud and student Alumni and co-director Samantha Wheatley.
The audience’s attention was captured from start to finish in this six-act play with no intervals with captivating but complex dialogue that held lighthearted and fun energy from each one of the performers.
Co-director Wheatley graduated from NECC in 2014 with an associate’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in theater and went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree at Fitchburg State University.
After several different performances over the years, including a production from Fitchburg, “The importance of Being Earnest” which was nominated in 2015 for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Audition for outstanding performers and made it to the semi-final round of the competition, Wheatley came back to help direct and perform in “All in the Timing” by David Ives.
“We wanted something different, more unique, complex,” Wheatley said, about the Ives play. “We want the audience to go home and think about it.”
Ben Swanney and Naima Eve agreed with her as well.
Swanney jokingly added “I want people driving home to think about bread,” referring to the fourth act “Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread.”
Each act of the play had a unique vision and concept. There were so many ways that you could interpret the meaning of each one.
The performers quickly changed into each character that they played and didn’t miss a beat.
The audience was laughing and deeply engaged with each act.
“It was funny, different, and haven’t seen anything like it,” said Bailey Orio, a current NECC student and Observer Opinion editor.
“It was funny but sad at the same time. Philip Glass was my favorite because there was a lot of emotion in it,” another member of the audience, Claire Newey said. Newey’s mother, Jessica Coutinho Newey was the stage manager for the show.
The first performance of the semester was successful, entertaining, and had people’s imagination and emotions all over the place.
If you are interested in future productions or want to be a part of the cast or crew for the next NECC theater production, any student is welcome to audition or acquire about backstage positions.
Some positions can also provide an opportunity to earn credits.
You can contact Brianne Beatrice at 978-556-3276 or bbeatrice@necc.mass.edu.
