The Daily Collegian
Members of No Refund Theatre perform “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” in the Forum
Building on Thursday night. It is NRT’s last show of the semester.
NET tells dark Irish comedy
By Hannah Rishel
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Dogs might be called man’s best friend,
but for Padraic, his pet Wee Thomas is the
cat’s meow.
No Refund Theater performed “The
Lieutenant of Inishmore” Thursday night
in 111 Forum. Additional performances of
the theatre group’s last show of the semes
ter will be held 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday
in the same location. Admission is free, but
donations are accepted to help NRT with
their future projects.
The play centers on Padraic, whose vio
lent temper led to him being kicked out of
the Irish Republican Army. His only friend
in the world is his cat. Wee Thomas, whom
he left in the care of his father while he is
working in Northern Ireland.
Trouble and hilarity ensue when Wee
Thomas is killed by members of the Irish
National Liberation Army as a plot to bring
Padraic back home in order to assassinate
him. Padraic's father and Davey, his neigh
bor. devise a plan to disguise a different cat
as Padraic's beloved pet so he won’t tor
ture or kill them.
When Padaric returns home when he
hears from his father that Wee Thomas is
"sick." he runs into Davev's younger sister
Mairead, who he develops a romantic rela
tionship with.
Charlotte de Vries and Monica
Christiansen attended the show to support
‘Chaperone’ brings laughs
By Heather Panetta
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
From a Latin ladies man named Adolfo
to a man playing a woman named Trix the
Aviatrix. students, faculty, and community
members were introduced to a host of col
orful characters Thursday night.
In their last show of the semester, the
Penn State School of Theatre presented
"The Drowsy Chaperone" to a sold-out
audience at the Penn State Downtown
Theatre Center, 146 S. Allen St.
The show is part of the second-year
Master of Fine Arts directing project.
Faculty, theatre students, and other pro
fessional actors made up the cast.
From his living room, the play's narra
tor who is known as The Man in the
Chair begins to play the record from his
favorite musical. "The Drowsy
Chaperone."
Instantly the play comes to life and audi
ence members follow along as The Man in
the Chair acts as sort of the puppet master
of the show and is able to pause the play
when he stops the record. Several times he
also hands the characters props.
The play being played out in the living
room follows Janet Van De Graff and
Robert Martin on the day of their wedding.
The title character is supposed to keep
Janet from seeing her groom but her
“drowsy" or drunken state hinders her job.
Along the way several of the characters
attempt to stop the wedding altogether.
However, in the end the audience finds
themselves guests at more than one wed
ding.
From the moment the play started and
Nova Scotian folk fiddler
provides a Celtic Christmas
By David Strader
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Tis the season for Celtic folk.
Nova Scotian folk fiddler Natalie
Mac Master performed her show.
"Christmas in Cape Breton," at
Eisenhower Auditorium Thursday
evening.
The performance, hosted by the Center
for the Performing Arts, incorporated tra
ditional Christmas music with a Celtic
spin.
Mac Master also drew upon local talent
as she welcomed the Nittany Valley
Children's Choir to join her on stage for a
number of songs.
Amy Vashaw, audience and program
development director for the Center, said
the Christmas show was made “especially
compelling” by the inclusion of the chil
dren’s choir.
George Trudeau, director of the Center,
said he was proud to match Mac Master up
with local talent.
“We have a wonderful children's choir
here, and we’re always pleased to be able
to offer that to musicians like this,” he said.
Attendee Catherine Posey of Bellefpnte,
31, said the Eisenhower show was her
third time watching Mac Master perform.
“Seeing her live is a great experience
that everybody should have,” Posey said.
Posey added that Mac Master does not
follow the standard Celtic music formula.
“She does very interesting things with
their friend Desmond Nathanson, who
played James in the play.
Christiansen (graduate-aerospace engi
neering) added that she had seen NRT
shows last year, but this was her first
chance to attend one this semester
because of her busy schedule.
She said that compared to some of the
shows she saw last semester. "The
Lieutenant of Inishmore" wasn’t that dis
turbing despite its violent nature main
ly due to the comedy in the show.
"It’s shocking at times." de Vries (grad
uate-mechanical engineering) said. "But
the torture scene was manageable."
She added that Davey was her favorite
character in the show.
"I feel so bad for him." de Vries said.
Leah Blasko (sophomore-public rela
tions), a member of NRT. also said Davey
was her favorite character.
"I like his hair." she said, laughing. "He's
funny."
Blasko added that this play was darker
than the others that the theatre group has
performed this semester.
"Last semester we performed a lot of
dark comedies," she said. "This semester
we tried to lighten it up a little."
NRT will resume their performances
next semester by kicking off with an
adaptation of "The Twilight Zone" on Jan.
21.
To e-mail reporter: hmrso27@psu.edu
The Man in the Chair walked on stage and
addressed the audience in the dark, the
audience was laughing.
For some audience members. The Man
in the Chair was their favorite character
out of the entire play.
Foram Tailor came to support her
teacher Robert Schneider, who played this
character.
"I loved it. This was my first time watch
ing it.” Tailor said. "I thought it was hilari
ous."
Tailor said she had seen Schneider per
form in other plays and thought he was
amazing. However, her favorite scene she
said was between Adolfo and the Drowsy
Chaperone, when Adolfo mistakes her for
someone else.
Sharon Lawton and Shona Erlenborn
both came from Martinsville. NJ to sup
port the director Nathan Brewer. Both
said they never seen the play before but
loved it and were surprised by how much
they enjoyed it.
Lawton also said The Man in the Chair
ended up being her favorite character.
"He was so awkward and funny
Lawton said.
Erlenborn was most impressed by the
cast as a whole.
“All of the characters wc"!-vd well
together and the show was wel < ast," she
said.
“And the Aviatrix was hilarious ind well
played."
Additional shows can be seen at 7:30
p.m. tonight and Saturday. Tickets are S 3
at the door.
To e-mail reporter: hapl36@psu.edu
the genre by branching off into jazz and
other influences." Posey said.
And Mac Master's Celtic style was well
received, Vashaw said.
“It's similar in sound to local
Pennsylvanian folk, so it's very popular in
this area.'
As Mac Master took to the stage in a
shiny red blouse, she rubbed her pregnant
belly and referred to it as her "little disco
ball."
Her fourth child-to-be did not stop
Mac Master from fiddling and step dancing
throughout the first show of her Christmas
season tour.
Trudeau said Macmaster was a natural
musician.
“It's in her blood," Trudeau said. "In
Cape Breton, it's all about getting together
with family and just jamming."
And Mac Master emphasized this point
on stage.
“There's no such thing as a Cape Breton
house party without live music," she said.
Posey said she was glad to see Nova
Scotian music represented at Penn State.
“It’s just wonderful to have musicians
come here from so many different areas
around the world,” she said.
Vashaw added that Mac Master’s music
made for a “joyous way to spend the
evening" that was seasonally appropriate.
“It is a fantastic and unique way to cele
brate the holiday season,” she said.
To e-mail reporter: dass46l@psu.edu
E RTAINMENT
UPAC*
Mxf Student AcfentyFeej^j^WWly
PRESEMIS
Student Alliance)
GAPS GAMING - 9:30
PM-1:30 AM, Ground Floor
LATENIGHT BILLIARDS -
9 PM-1 AM,
The Break Zone
ARHS MOVIE: THE EXTRA
MAN -7 PM, 9:30 PM &
12 AM, Auditorium
FRIDAY LATENIGHT FOOD
SPECIALS:
Ground Floor Carts: $1
Nathan’s Hotdog, $1.29
Soft Pretzels, David’s Larj
Cookies at $1.59, and 754
Box of Popcorn -
9 PM-1 AM
Sbarro: $1.99 Meatball
Hero or Pasta Special and
$1 slice of Cheese or
Pepperoni Pizza -
9 PM-2 AM
WHITE BUILDING
ACTIVITIES:
Late Night Basketball
League Playoffs -
7:30 PM start
Open Recreation -
9 PM start
Orchesis Dance Perfor
mance - 8 PM start
(admission charge)
Ballroom Dancing -
10 PM start
Open Pool Recreation* -
9 PM-12 AM (Closed if
no Lifeguard)
Fitness Center* - 9 PM
-1 AM (*Requires Fitness
Pass/ID)
Saturday, Dec. 4
SWING DANCE-10 PM-1
AM, Alumni Hall (Sponsored
by Swing Dancing Club)
PENN STATE INTERNA
TIONAL DANCE
ENSEMBLE - Dances from
around the world! - 10 PM
& 12 AM, Ground Floor
CREATIVE CRAFTS - Paint
your own Seasonal
Ornament! - 9 PM-1 AM,
Ground Floor
GAPS GAMING - 9:30
PM-1:30 AM, Ground Floor
LATENIGHT BILLIARDS -
9 PM-1 AM,
The Break Zone
ARHS MOVIE: THE EXTRA
MAN -7 PM, 9:30 PM &
12 AM, Auditorium
SATURDAY LATENIGHT
FOOD SPECIALS:
.. Ground Floor Carts: SI.9S
Fruit Smoothies, $1.29 Soft
Pretzels, David’s Large
| Cookies at $1.59, and 750
1 Box of Popcorn -
9 PM-1 AM
/• Nathan’s: 59c Mini-
Hamburger, 99c Nachos, $1
I Nathan's Hotdog, and 5
' Kenny Rogers Roasters
Wings for $1.99 - 9 PM-2
& AM
. WHITE BUILDING
5 ACTIVITIES:
Late Night Basketball
| League Playoffs -
*7:30 PM start
ll* Open Recreation -
9 PM start
Open Pool Recreation* -
9 PM-12 AM (Closed if
no Lifeguard)
Fitness Center* - 9 PM
I 1 AM (‘Requires Fitness
|| Pass/ID)
Sunday. Dec. 5
ARHS MOVIE: THE EXTRA
MAN - 7 PM & 9:30 PM.
Auditorium
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
UPA<
\txj Student Activity I
Winter Concert
Blue in the Face
Dec. 4 - 6 PM -105 Forum
Blue in the Face will host its winter concert
featuring a wide variety of music ranging from
Bon Jovi to Michael Jackson to Sara Bareilles.
The group will also perform holiday themed
NAACP Image Awards
Dec. 5-8 PM - HUB Alumni Hall
Join the Penn State Chapter of the NAACP at its
first annual “NAACP Image Awards.” The theme
is “Man in the Mirror” and awards will include the
MLK Jr. Community Activism Award, the Horatio
Alger Unsung Hero Award, Langston Hughes
Arts award and more!
Student Organization Roundtable
Dec. 7 - 7 PM - 324 HUB-Robeson Center
If, you are a student organization president or
member, you are invited to come together with
other members to discuss issues that are
impacting you! Snacks will be provided.
CAPS (Counseling and Psychological
Services) Presents:
Personal Issues Series
Dec. 8-7 pm - 321 HUB-Robeson Center
Coping with Stress for Exams
HUB-Robeson Gallery Exhibits
Gallery Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday -12-6 PM
Friday-Sunday -12-4 PM
closed Monday
HUB Gallery - First floor of
HUB/Robeson Center
Uncommon Bond - now through Dec. 12
Robeson Gallery - Bookstore level of
HUB/Robeson Center
Textural Rhythms: Quilting the Jazz Tradition -
now through Dec. 5
Art Alley - First floor of
HUB/Robeson Center
What I Keep, Portraits and Choices by Susan
Mullally - now through Dec. 7
NOTA Winter Concert 2010
Dec. 4-9 PM -105 Forum
Free Admission
Join Penn State’s oldest co-ed a capella group
None of the Above (NOTA) for a night of live
music and fun. Songs include
selections from:
Third Eye Blind
Katy Perry
Travie McCoy
Stevie Wonder
Rilo Kiley
Faith Hill
....and many more!
One Stage Revolution presents:
A Perfect Wedding
(written by Charles L. Mee)
'he hysterical story of love, life, death, mudsling
ing, big keisters, and of course, a wedding!
Dec. 3-105 Forum - TONIGHT!!
Dec. 4-102 Forum
Dec. 5-111 Forum
7:30 PM
$3 for students
$3.50 for faculty and staff
$4 for general public
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 I 7