Spring Break
'Brighton Beach Memoirs' makes waves
Veterans, beginners take the stage for director's last play
Doug Graham / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: News
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The play features a mix of veterans and newcomers to the stage, with two freshmen and two seniors making up part of the seven-person cast.
Among the freshmen is Josh Anderson, a business management major and theater arts minor, who plays the role of Eugene, a 15-year-old boy whom many consider a parallel to Simon at that age.
Anderson said he tried to channel the feelings and curiosities all kids experienced growing up in order to be a convincing pubescent male.
Anderson said the hardest part of playing Eugene was learning to throw a baseball realistically.
"I was taught by numerous guys and girls of the cast and crew on how to at least fake throwing a baseball. I hope it wasn't too obvious," Anderson said.
Bailey Murphy, a senior theater arts major, played the part of Blanche, Eugene's aunt who moves in with Eugene's family following the death of her husband.
Blanche constantly relies on the kindness of her family, later admitting how dependent of a life she has led.
Murphy said it was difficult to get into the mindset and understand the motivations of her character.
"Last semester I played Medea, who killed her own children as a form of sick revenge, and her mindset, for me, was way easier to understand," Murphy said.
Robert Browy, a sophomore theater arts major with a teacher certification, played the role of Jack, Eugene's father and the man who bears the responsibility of feeding a family of seven.
Browy said his own experience as being the oldest brother in his family was similar to Eugene's situation.
Although the setting of the play is grim, at heart the play is a comedy and every member of the cast provided plenty of laughs.
Browy said even though not every member of the cast had experience in comedy before, everyone did a great job learning.
"When it comes down to acting, if you don't have comedic timing most times you won't get cast in the show," he said.
"Brighton Beach Memoirs" will be the final show Jerry Eisenhour directs at Eastern.
Eisenhour, who is retiring after this year, said he picked "Brighton Beach Memoirs" because it is a coming-of-age story the audience can relate to.
"It takes place during the Great Depression of the 1930s, when no one had money, when having a few dollars to rub together was quite a big deal," He said. "We're not quite at the same place these days, but we can begin to identify with the fear of losing a job."
Tickets for "Brighton Beach Memoirs" are $12 for general admission, $10 for senior citizens and Eastern employees and $5 for students.
"Brighton Beach Memoirs" cast list
Eugene — Josh Anderson
Kate — Lizzy Powers
Blanche — Bailey Murphy
Laurie — Caitlin Bieda
Nora — Caitlin Carroll
Stanley — Brian McElligott
Jack — Rob Browy
Director — Jerry Eisenhour
Scenic Design — Nick Shaw
Costume Design — Karen Eisenhour
Lightning Design — David Wolski
Sound Design — Nick Shaw
Doug Graham can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
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