Search for love often 'Strictly Experimental'

Students enact light comedy about love’s perils

Kelly Jasper / senior photographer Freshman Brandon Ferraro, who plays Johnny, and senior Sara Eshleman, who plays Terri, performed this week in Theatre II's play "Strictly Experimental." The play will run through April 24 with a midnight showing on April 23.

Most people taste a few bitter fruits before finding the sweet taste of true love. This week at Theatre II, the Stratford Players present “Strictly Experimental,” a lighthearted comedy about the perils of dating advice and the lengths to which people will go to find love.

This brilliantly student-written show features the acting antics of seniors Sean Galdo, Ashley Young and Sara Eshelman, juniors Aiko Yasuhara and David Schrock and freshmen Brandon Ferraro and Stephanie Wilbur.

Galdo, who plays Greg in the play, called “Experimental” “crazy good fun,” and said the message of the play is that “you can’t achieve perfection by trying too hard.”

The play begins when best-selling author and columnist M.C. Reynolds (Yasuhara), comes to town. Ordinary simpletons flock to attend her conference and receive a few of the legendary guru’s pearls of wisdom concerning dating. However, when Reynolds tests her theories on six unwitting volunteers, her plans go haywire and hilarity ensues.

Yasuhara calls the performance a commentary on the dating magazine culture.

“[The play is] about how people give so much credit to these theories [on love] that may or may not necessarily work,” Yasuhara said.

“Strictly Experimental” owes its existence to senior Emily Gipson, the student writer and director.

Gibson said the hardest part of producing the show was organizing the lights and scheduling and actors.

Gipson was quick to add, however, “I love doing theatre; the show is really fun and has been a worthwhile experience.”

One of the most difficult aspects for the actors, however, was the vulnerability of their performances. “Our cast is pretty inexperienced and this was a student-written show, which is harder to do because you’re really putting yourself out there,” Yasuhara said. Galdo added that the time constraints were hard, and [the show] pretty much become the cast’s social life.

Both consider the experience a positive one, but also were quick to point out the closeness of the Experimental cast.

“We get along so well, it’s fun and the energy is really high,” Yasuhara said.

“It’s just like a party every time we rehearse,” added Galdo.

“Strictly Experimental” will run at Theatre II from April 20 to April 24 at 8 pm. There also will be a midnight show April 23. Tickets are $3 with JAC card and go on sale at 4 p.m. Monday at the Theatre II Box Office.