Event Article

If you missed last year's performance of "M. Butterfly", you missed what the L.A. Times and Orange County Register both gave extraordinary reviews to. Don't miss such an opportunity again.

Coming in October, you'll get your chance with "The Royal Hunt of the Sun," a drama by Peter Shaffer, who also wrote "Amadeus" and "Equus" and directed by Gary Krinke, head of the drama department at Fullerton College.

"Sun" carries the theme of gold and ruin. Shaffer develops those themes with the story of Francisco Pizzaro who, in the 16th century, took 166 men and defeated an Inca empire of 24 million. The Spanish raided all the lands they could, obsessed with stealing the Incas gold, melting it down and dividing it inequitably. The play tells the tragic tale of greed among comrades, cruelty, mutiny and how money can bring out the worst in people and ultimately lead to chaos and destruction.

Gary Krinke undertook this challenge with a realization that he carne across recently.

"Last year we did 'M. Butterfly' and we had a lot of our -Asian population join' us for that show," Krinke explained. "So, we're trying to make sure that everybody knows that we're accessible and that we eire welcoming eyeryone to this theater," he said.

With the growth of diversity among races on campus, Krinke realizes that the drama department must grow with it. "It's less of a theme season, and it's more of a multi-ethnic approach. The ethnic approach isn't even ethnicity at all. It's the relation that each one of us share," he said.

It should appeal to everybody" Krinke stated. "It's one man conquering a nation< and destroying a whole body of people. Of all the shows this season, this one has a universal feel. Everyone of us knows a country or a nation or a people who have been in that situation conquered and destroyed."

The images are just as compelling. The set is at "double rake," meaning the floor is at 45-degree angle, the costumes are from a "mythical time" and the set had to be imagined from an era that no one has a first hand account of.

"We're doing a lot of research on what we found out about the people at that time," Krinke says as his hands emulate the mountains of information they had to distribute through. "And then having to go from there· on our own creation ... and creating more an just a by-gone era."

The cast is made up of years of talent. Matthew D'Amico, who has performed at FC in "Hamlet", ''Romeo and Juliet" and last year's "Noises Off", heads up the cast as Francisco Pizarro.

Another familiar face is Peter Leal, who's displayed his talent in "Hamlet", "Frankenstein", and "Pirates of Penzance". He has also done promotional work for Disney and his first film, "Unexpected Wedding" is due to be released in January. He plays the role of Martin Ruiz in "Sun".

Brandon Crane is a new face to FC. His resume includes 100 commercials, three television movies, a feature film, and 20 television show guest appearances including the role of Doug Porter on "The Wonder Years." He assumes the role of Fray Marcos de Nizza.

Finally Michelle Vidal is another new comer that brings a hope and love for this play· with her. Being of both Inca and Spanish decent, ~he displays her heritage on the stage. She hopes that "those who watch this will better understand how history of over 400 years ago can directly affect today's social class struggle, terrorism and the political unrest ... in other parts of the world."

With the direction and talent that is heading this endeavor, it's going to be hard for it to fall short of expectations. Especially since they have been working since the second week of school.

Krinke said to "expect a spectacle, both physically and visually and some incredible themes to deal with about nations conquering nations and nations trying to inflict another religion on another country and the destruction and the greed that lead Pizarro to destroy a nation." He went on to say, "It's amazing how we keep repeating that history."