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Circle Mirror Transformation
Circle Mirror Transformation
Circle Mirror Transformation
Brehnan Gaspard
Introduction to Theatre
3 March 2020
order to better convey this feeling of intimacy and uncomfortableness to the audience,
when I saw the play On February 28, the seating area was modified to where the only
seats available to the audience where either the seats right next to the stage or on the
stage itself, on either side of the performance. By forcing the audience to be very
close to the actors and play itself, it not only helped establish a closer connection to
the characters and events, but also forced the audience to step outside of their comfort
The play itself has seen critical acclaim. David Rooney of The Variety Magazine
had this to say on the character of Marty: “Anyone with experience of drama
workshops has had at least one teacher they will instantly recognize in Marty
description that also fits the Marty seen in this performance. He also said that the set
was “a perfect facsimile of a community center rec room, from the mirrored wall to
the institutional drapes to the kids’ poster art visible in the hall outside.”. While this
performance also perfectly emulated a a community rec room and also had a
mirrored wall, there were no drapes to be seen. Instead their were other common
objects found in community rec rooms, such as an exercise ball and mats.
Not only was this performance great, I feel like it was a great choice for fo the
TCC-SE’s theatre program, mainly due to it being set in the present day and it’s
realistic writing style. By having actors in training tackle a play with a setting and
Gaspard 2
dialogue that feels relatable to their day to day experiences, it helps them get
comfortable with the art before they get into more complex and out of the box
Dietrich Calhoun as James. All the little details and movements he added, such as
shaking his head at Schultz after Theresa left the room in a rush to his slight
to was a delight to see. In my opinion, he stole the show in every scene he was in.
However, there were some performances that still needed some improvement.
lines with great emotion, his mannerism and movement did not properly convey a
middle aged, divorced man. He felt more like a young adult fresh out of college. The
relationship dynamic between him and Theresa slightly suffered as a result of this. I
The costumes in this play were brilliantly put together. Marty looks like the
spitting image of a play director, and small things such as James green pants and
personalities very well. All in all, the costumes were one of the best parts of the
show.
The absolute best part of the show for me however was the use of lighting and
scenery. Every single prop was used in some way. The excercise ball and mats were
used in several of the “acting games” during the performance, and using the mirror to
allow the both Theresa and Marty and the audience to see Shchultz uncomfortable
face during the “pubic hair” discussion was brilliantly done. The clever use of lighting
in the end to portray the time skip was also a highlight of the performance, as the
fluorescent light of the rec room shut off and the only source of light was the two
Every song was not only modern like the play itself, but had lyrics that either
related to the themes of the show or what was going on in it at the moment,
play that portrayed how people change through serf reflection and interactions with
their social circle’s perfectly (a circle mirror transformation, if you will). I believe that
with more experience and determination, these young performers might have a bright
acting career in their future. A solid performance not just by the actors, but everyone
involved.