Stuck Debut

I am heading to Palau on Thursday, so I made sure to see the opening night of Stuck last night at the American Memorial Park theater, and it was a great time. It is an edgy, funny, profane, shocking play with some great acting by some young thespians -- two MHS high school seniors about to graduate featured prominently in Kelvin Rodeo and Keisha Paez. Nahal Navidar was great too, as she was in In Transit earlier, which I really enjoyed. Rick Jones of Java Joes fame played a middle aged man hitting on a much younger woman, not sure there was much acting there, so maybe Rick should play a Buddhist Monk next time so he can test his acting chops rather than just assume it is a regular Friday night, but only on stage. Rick's character Charlie is an artist who "turns junk into something beautiful," which is eerily similar to what Rick does with those Chicken Nuggets I keep buying at Java Joes. Life imitates art. Totally kidding Rick, you were great, buddy. Lynda Rowe, an NMC instructor, did a great job as the dipsomaniac mother holding her daughter back. My only complaint is that Managing Director Bree Reynolds, and others, were too modest to take a very appropriate bow with the actors after the memorable conclusion.

The next performances will be June 8 and 9 at 7 PM. It will be held at the American Memorial Park visitor center's theater. Tickets are $5 and can be gotten through the director Nahal Navidar by calling 285-9014, or leaving a comment at their blog. I got my ticket from Rick at Java Joes. This is not recommended for children under 13 years old.

Here's a description of the play from Dramatists.com:
Set in backwater Middletown, USA—STUCK tells the tale of two twenty-three-year olds, Lula and Margaritah, best friends since they were five years old. They work at a video store during the day and hang out in the car at night minding Margaritah's baby and wishing they could get out of Middletown. Stifled by their environment, the fulfillment the girls once found in each other is waning. Margaritah falls in love with a right-wing Argentine businessman whose political agenda is a mystery to her. Lula hits the bars and ends up in bed with the father of one of her old school chums. The girls' love affairs end in despair, and each girl is inspired to change no matter the consequences. The play's inevitable horrific climax comes because these young women cannot imagine how to attain a reality beyond the one in which they already live.