Event Article

Audiences shed tears of joy, laughter, sadness and awe during performances of the theatre arts department's rendition of Martin Sherman's "Bent" at the Bronwyn Dodson Theatre, Nov. 17-22.

A racy drama put on by Fullerton College students, the play captured the hearts and minds of viewers with its remarkably talented cast and natural choreography.

Set during the Nazi Regime in Germany, "Bent" follows the sad romantic tale of Max (Alex Makardish), who loses his lover Rudy (Justin Eaton) at the Dachau concentration camp. Later on in the story, Max meets a new love by the name of Horst (Daniel Hunt). The love affair between Max and Horst escalates into an ending that is equa1ly as tragic as Rudy's death.

The show opened with a chaotic scene at Greta's gay club, where the actors took spectators into a night of debauchery and drunkenness.

Women dressed in lavish party costumes and men donned their era-themed uniforms, creating a realistic scene of a nightclub in the 1930s and I 940s.

With the cast entering the theatre through the two main entrances and a few characters sitting at tables at ground level amongst the crowd, there was a heightened sense of intimacy.

The invasion of personal space between the actors and the guests broke barriers that normally exist in large theatres with vast stages (such as the Plummer Auditorium), allowing for a stronger emotional impact.

Despite the unnecessary inclusion of nudity in the second scene, all characters and props were utilized wisely.

The relatively minimalistic use of prop furniture and stage accessories encouraged the audience to focus on the characters and their acting.

Another technique that made the play maintain its realistic appearance was the decision to use real stones instead of prop rocks.

During scenes in which Max and Horst must rotate rocks as part of their daily labor, Makardish and Hunt brought their characters physical struggles to reality as their sweaty faces glistened in the limelight.

The purity and passion of the main casts' acting truly transformed and captivated the audience.

Bent is just another example of the impeccable talent and skill of the theatre arts department and extended its appeal to an even broader, mass audience.