A Profane Performance

To drop the F-bomb at least 62 times, according to my tally, in a two-hour time span of a play with four cast members could be considered a nearly impossible feat. But that’s what the cast of“The Money Shot” did in Tuesday night’s dress rehearsal. But don’t worry, other colorful profanity also decorates the dialogue.

Director Scott Cavin, associate professor of visual performing arts, said college students would probably be the best audience for this performance because they generally are more open to the situations portrayed in “The Money Shot’s” scenes.

A mature audience with a good sense of sarcastic humor is definitely needed for this eye-opening performance. Trigger warning: this play is not for the students who need safe places. I would recommend all college students go see “The Money Shot” because it’s full of acerbic humor inviting students to witness how celebrities are often insecure about themselves and willing to risk their dignity and relationships just to stay in the public’s eye (think anything Kardashian).

In a pagesix.com article by Cindy Adams, author of “The Money Shot” Neil LaBute states, “I love humor. You need guts to write comedy.” While this is probably true, it’s also arguable that it takes major guts to act out this kind of comedic performance (and to watch it). It is quite an accomplishment to keep a play entertaining while communicating a somber message at the same time, so congratulations.

The rehearsal ran smoothly for only having three weeks of practice instead of the usual six weeks, said Cavin.

Other unpredictable factors like illness also struck the cast and crew and hindered the amount of days they were able to rehearse. However, after watching Tuesday night’s full dress run through, it looked as if the cast and crew had as much practice as they had in any other past production.

Lighting, sound, hair, makeup, costumes, and set all came together and created a fitting atmosphere for the rehearsal.

Out of the 30-40 students who auditioned, only four were able to make the cut for this production. These four cast members include Molly Thornton, 24-year-old senior of Riverton, Wyoming, majoring in theater and biology plays Karen; Asia Carr, 20-year-old junior of Lusk, Wyoming, majoring in psychology plays Bev,;Tavia Passero, 19-year-old sophomore of Chadron, majoring in early elementary education plays Missy; and Nathan Wojciechowski, 22-year-old senior of Gering, majoring in business finance and theater performance directing plays Steve.

A large production team joined with this cast produces a phenomenal performance.

If you and your friends or you and your significant other want to try something new this weekend, go see “The Money Shot” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, or 2 p.m. on Sunday

There’s a surprising twist at the end of the play so go find out what happens!

The next performance by the Chadron State College Theater Program will be “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard Feb. 25-28, 2016.

Lights, Camera, Conflict. A myriad of foul language and some risqué situations help to portray how celebrity meltdowns, charities, feuds, love lives, and personal details, are sold to us by television executives everywhere.

The Chadron State College theater department’s rendition of Neil Labute’s “The Money Shot” addresses the celebrity lifestyle and society’s attraction to it in a way that is “sure to please college students,” and would make any Entertainment News reporter shiver with excitement.

“It is fun with the celebrity aspect,” Director and Associate Professor Scott Cavin said of the decision to do the play. ”We tend to listen to what all these celebrities say and what they say can tend to be dumb.”

The piece follows four characters that form two couples as they discuss a possible “Money Shot” in a movie starring half of each couple.

The entire play covers a dinner party called by Karen who is played by Molly Thornton, 24, senior of Riverton, Wyoming. Karen is an actress who is looking to stay relevant by having a shockingly new scene in the movie she is working on. Karen’s “partner, girlfriend, or whatever she will call her next,” is Bev.

Asia Carr, 20, junior from Lusk, Wyoming, plays Bev. The character is a know-it-all, women’s activist, film editor who is living with her rich and famous girlfriend Karen. Throughout the play, she argues with all of the other characters about their knowledge of well-known facts. A majority of her quarrels, including one wrestling match, take place between her and Steve.

Nathan Wojciechowski, 22, senior of Gering, plays Steve, Karen’s 48-year-old famous co-star. He portrays an aging actor struggling to maintain his youthful appearance. Throughout the evening, he manages to offend a slew of different people fitting many different stereotypes. His young wife Missy accompanies him to the dinner party.

Chadron native Kristavia Passero, 19, sophomore, plays Missy. Her character is the stereotypical young, blonde, aspiring actress. Although she has fewer lines than the other characters, she teaches the audience to dismiss stereotypes as well as provides a great deal of whimsical comic relief.

The overall production is well done despite a few setbacks including short rehearsal time and illness, which touched the entire cast. Due to illness, they only had their first full cast walkthrough a week before the show was set to open.

If you have an opportunity to watch “The Money Shot” you absolutely should. That is unless you are easily offended. Because the piece hits on some “hot” topics in today’s society including gay relationships, racism, and age gap relationships. There are some uncomfortable situations and a large amount of remarks that are not for the gentle hearted, that the cast handles well to portray the seriousness of the issues. It is packed full of sarcastic humor and witty remarks that are sure to keep you laughing throughout.

Performances will begin in the Black Box Theatre in Memorial hall on at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and continuing each night through Saturday. There will be a performance at 2 p.m. Sunday.