Friday, September 14, 2007

New play on island

The Fabulous Invalid Theatre Company will present a one night showing of 110 Flights, written by Nahal Navidar. 110 Flights is a two person play toiling back and forth between two drastically different perspectives after September 11th. To call it a play about 9/11 would be inaccurate. It's a play about a very tender human relationship tarnished by the tragedies of 9/11. Shahla (an Iranian-American psychology graduate student) is married to Patrick (an Irish-American NYC cop). The play opens as Patrick and Shahla are planning for a very happy future: having babies, planning new careers and so on. When Patrick's best friend Evan dies in the attacks on 9/11, their world is turned upside down. Shahla has experienced grief on this level before having grown up in the Iran Iraq war. Patrick, however, has never experienced this kind of loss and doesn't know how to deal with his pain. He begins to despise Middle Eastern people and place all blame for his grief on them. As the play unfolds, Patrick falls deeper and deeper into his solace leaving Shahla without any idea of how to help him. Cast: Shahla-Nahal Navidar Patrick-Brad Ruszala. Show info: Saturday September 29 2007 @ 7PM American Memorial Park AuditoriumTickets $5 Email Fabulousinvalidtc@hotmail.com

33 comments:

Bree Reynolds said...

Thanks Jeff!!!

See you there:)

Saipan Writer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jeff said...

I have what she gave me.

Anonymous said...

Jane... I think it's juvenile to have an online blog argument, but since you're attempting to publicly tarnish my character I guess I have to publicly defend myself. So please ignore the personal email I sent.

First off all, I'm SINCERELY offended that anyone would accuse me of scheduling a performance of 110 FLIGHTS to detract an audience from the Thespian Chapter Play. Every HJHS student who is in UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE went through me before they were cast. And they were all cast. I helped them pick pieces for auditions to were suited to their acting abilities and age range(not the same Shell Silverstein poems that we're used to hearing). I also gave them coaching lessons beforehand such as "What is your objective? What is your tactic?" and not just "Move here. Sit there."

Secondly... The reason I started a theatre company was to bring MORE theatre to Saipan, not less. Why do people see new things as a threat? In the states, multiple performances are scheduled by several different theatre companies on the same dates, and they manage to draw audiences. Audiences who thrive off the arts and don't see it as a chore to see more than one play. I'm not here to steal anyones audience or prove anything. I just love theatre. It's as simple as that.

Thirdly... I encourage everyone to go see UP THE DOWN STAIRCASE. They have THREE performances. Friday, September 28 at 7. Saturday, September 29 at 1 AND 7. All at the Multipurpose Center. (I would like to remind you that 110 FLIGHTS has ONE performance.)

I would appreciate you talking to me personally before you try to tarnish my name as a teacher. But for anyone who doubts me, I encourage you to talk to the most reliable sources, MY STUDENTS.

-Nahal

Bree Reynolds said...

Jane, I think you are over-reacting. As Nahal said, there are 3 perforances of the youth play and Nahal and I both intend to go see it, since several of our students are in the play. And as Nahal said, there should be room in a city of 60,000 for more than one theatrical performance on any given night. The plays draw totally different audiences and 110 Flights is a one night show. Teaching on Saipan is a stressful job and Hopwood is probably the most stressful place on island to teach. Nahal shows up for work everyday and tries against all logic and reason to teach dramatic arts to 6 classes of 30 students each. After school and during her prep she mentored the students in the Thespian program. What more can you ask from someone underpaid and underappreciated for her talent and dedication. She could be in New York performing and directing, which is what she quit doing to come here to support her family. She is a gift. Perhaps I'm biased because she's my friend. Or perhaps, I like many others, yearn for more arts and culture and feel that instead of attacking someone for offering choices on a Sat. night, we should say THANK YOU!!!!

Brad Ruszala said...

i'm disappointed too. i thought our objective was to crush the competing performance at the box office so we could get a better review from the kspn critics. darn it! i didn't realize i was dealing with such amateurs!















...this is a joke you know. thought i'd have to clear that up for some folks.

Angelo Villagomez said...

Why is this even an issue? Brad is the actor slash model. He's going to su...be great.

With so many thing to be outraged about, why go off on a play?

Jeff said...

Jane is carving out a niche dropping more bombs than the U.S. Air Force. Welcome to the club, Nahal. Brad and I are charter members.

Anonymous said...

God forbid we have more than one choice of something to go see on this island. I don't have any kids at Hopwood, and probably wouldn't have gone to that play (and in fact hadn't heard of it until the Great God of All That is Politically Correct brought it to our attention here).

Go get 'em, Nahal, you should get credit for helping stage a play at Hopwood and putting on your own performance as well.

As for Saipan Writer, don't you have anything better to do than judge people?

Anonymous said...

geeeeez jane, seems like your out numbered here, maybe you can post on another blog where people like you thrive.....what are you doing with your life??????

Angelo Villagomez said...

The general public isn't known for catching theater at the local high school. The schools will be packed with parents and teachers.

I'm neither.

Jane isn't the only one to get annoyed when you plan something on somebody else's "day."

God forbid an additional cleanup get scheduled on a day that already has one.

God forbid a fundraiser fall on the same day as another fundraiser.

Jane is not alone in thinking that people on this island have a right to stake out a date, banning all other events from occurring on that day.

Maybe because she has been here so long and still thinks only 10,000 people live here?

I am constantly having to choose between different events. Read my blog. Just last Friday I had to choose between a BC meeting, a soccer meeting, and an event at Grand Hotel. That's not even considering the other options I had, such as a family rosary, hanging out with other friends, drinking in a bar, or even spending time with my girlfriend.

These days there is always something to do in Saipan.

Anonymous said...

I would have to say that Nahal's hair is very curly and it hard to straighten! It takes hours to actually make it look straight. On a related note...I really think that Lula from the play Stuck really had a personal impact. Nahal conveyed the character so well that she helped me realize that being a promiscuous person does have its perks such as being paid to travel! I hope I will be able to make enough money to reach Gold Elite status..Thanks Nahal you're the best!

Magical Sea Cucumber :0)

Angelo Villagomez said...

It is very hard to read that last comment and not make a joke about Brad, the Magical Sea Cucumber, and the Tunnel of Love.

Very difficult...but I can resist.

Saipan Writer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

why dont you just shut up already. i'm truly biting my tongue right now and you really dont want to hear what i have to say jane...

Angelo Villagomez said...

Well, I think the true problem just surfaced. Jane has a daughter in the student play.

Jeff said...

You're "disgusted and outraged," that's not a mild indictment and it is in fact over the top. Darfur is disgusting and outrageous, not two plays on the same night. You didn't talk to her, and you are questioning her as a teacher on limited evidence. That is dropping a bomb, and you did the exact same thing to me. Before you go around slamming people and poisoning the atmosphere, how about talking to them before the rush to tarnish. You could at least get their viewpoint before airing your criticisms. This isn't some well known figure like a political figure used to this kind of thing.

Angelo Villagomez said...

...but I do give you credit for attaching your name to your criticisms. You might be wrong, but at least you are brave.

Angelo Villagomez said...

...and perhaps a better tactic would have been to write something like:

"Hey, don't forgot about the student thespians, performing such and such play, at such and such date and time. Can you guys help me promote this event?"

You would have gotten a much more positive response.

Bree Reynolds said...

FYI Just because you teach drama at a CNMI school, does not make you the defacto Thespian coordinator/advisor for that school. Nahal never signed up for that job. By default we are achapter of the Thespian progam and yes 4 out of 1,100 students are in Up the Down Stair Case. But Nahal is not an advisor of a club for the chapter, nor is she involved with the production of the play. And who says the kids won't feel supported if she only goes to one performance. That's just ridiculous. Yes its unfortunate those 4 students won't be able to see 110 Flights. But seriously, this is all way too melodramatic. Seems to me, Jane's beef is that Nahal isn't going to all three shows and isn't more involved with the Thespian program. Since this isn't the first time she's mentioned it. By the way, Nahal is planning a production at Hopwood this year and the next FITC production will include youth. She did a play last year at Hopwood, that no one, not even the administration at Hopwood attended. Its hard to commit to doing things for the kids when you don't have the support.

Unknown said...

I moved to Saipan to teach theatre to children with my own background and knowledge that I've acquired in my years of doing theatre. This is done through my classrooms and through the annual production (Yes... ONE production because the whole thing gets paid out of my pocket) that we put on in December.

If this doesn't conform with your ideals of an "outstanding teacher" then that's your gripe, not mine. In my two years of working at Hopwood I've never had a single complaint. If a student wants to be coached for Thespians, Miss Teen, STUCO speech, anything... then I have been more than willing to coach then with what little spare time there is.

As far a competitions and thespians and all these other organizations, I've never been approached about being a judge or coach or anything else closely involved. So for you to say that you think I'm "highly qualified" is laughable. Is seems you want me to be involved, but from a safe distance.

And that's fine by me. Like I said, I'm not here to impress anyone. I'm here for my kids. And my theatre company. Two SEPERATE things.

FITC has nothing to do with my students. My students have nothing to do with FITC. Like it says in our mission statement, we want to bring theatre to Saipan by professional standards. That's in subject matter, rehearsal time, involvement, etc. I wouldn't expect my Hopwood students to rehearse 4-10PM for a play, which was the rehearsal schedule for STUCK last year. If we happen to do a production one day that involves kids or teenagers, auditions will be open to the whole island. Not just Hopwood students.


And I totally understand that you won't be able to attend my play. Neither have my mom or brother for the past two years... and I've missed a few of his plays as well.

Am I a drama teacher at Hopwood? Yes.

Am I artistic director of a theatre company? Yes.

And what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

Sincerely-
The Great Satan

Anonymous said...

Tea is good for the soul! I love Green Tea :0)

Magical Sea Cucumber

Brad Ruszala said...

As in Miroslav Satan, the professional hockey player?

Brad Ruszala said...

did you have to post that five times?

Unknown said...

I like jasmine or thai tea with milk. Green tea is too mild.

Brad Ruszala said...

oooh, jasmine. never tried it but sounds good. maybe after we lambaste the lilliputian thespians at the box office on saturday we can get a cup or two.

tea with satan. i guess you take yours with two lumps.

Jeff said...

Nahal, Bruce Bateman has the patent on being Satan around here.

Unknown said...

After this I'll take mine with a shot of whiskey.

-Satan's Spawn

Unknown said...

Magical Sea Cucumber, that's two and a half hours average.

Angelo Villagomez said...

two and a half hours in the tunnel of love?

Unknown said...

No. 2 .5 hrs to straighten my hair.

Brad Ruszala said...

who cares about the hair? get swept away by her eyes...

Brad Ruszala said...

now that's funny. thanks dan aykroyd!