by Leah Whitcomb

contributor

“A sisters weekend gone terribly wrong,” is how Amanda Michaud, senior theatre major and producer of “Elemeno Pea,” describes her senior project.

“Elemeno Pea,” originally written by Molly Smith Metzler, is directed by Diana Howell, a guest director from the Fondren Theatre Workshop.

Simone, played by Tessa Eltzroth from the Jackson theatre community, is the personal assistant to a rich family in Martha’s Vineyard. They give her the guest house to invite her sister Devon and have a sister’s weekend.  Devon, played by Sydney Blackwell, was a social worker who quit her job to move to Los Angeles with her boyfriend but is currently single and back home living with Simone and her mother. As Simone and Devon are catching up getting ready to enjoy their relaxing weekend, Simone’s boss, Michaela, played by Anna Claire Gary, shows up and derails their peaceful weekend.

The weekend goes downhill from there. James Adamoli plays Jos-B, the Hispanic groundskeeper. Ethan, Simone’s self-absorbed boyfriend, is played by Zane Ballard.

Although the play is marketed as a comedy, it comes off more as a drama—an emotional scene in the play almost made me cry. The play has a few funny scenes and a few slow places, but overall, I believe it has a really nice story to tell. The small crew (Catherine Arjet, Josh May and Shane Grant) did a wonderful job on the lighting and sound.

Anna Claire Gary is the star of this show. She did a wonderful job portraying the neurotic, manipulative Michaela. My favorite actress would have to be Sydney Blackwell, though I don’t know whether I like her or her funny, down-to-earth character Devon more. Overall, the play is really good and is worth a two-hour retreat from hectic college life.

Catch “Elemeno Pea” Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Ford Academic Complex, Room 215. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for general admission.