UNION COUNTY LOCALSOURCE LOCALSOURCE.COM THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2010 — PAGE 21

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From left: Chris, played by Sean Mclntyre; Elizabeth, played by Rebecca Moore and David, played by DanielPietruszko peruse a 'mysterious' manuscript they find, which later leads to an exciting adventure that keeps theaudience on the edge of its seat.

'Manuscript' leaves audience guessingBy Bea SmithStaff Writer

"Manuscript" may be a far cryfrom Paul Grellong's award-nomi-nated "Law and Order: SpecialVictim's Unit," but it has itsmoments as a dark and a question-able, especially intriguing, mys-tery. Grellong has a special talentthat gives his audience enlighten-ment and at the same time, keepseveryone in the dark with a reasonto contemplate what is really goingon.

"Manuscript," which is beingstaged by the Theater Project —Union County's Professional The-ater in the Roy Smith Theater onthe Cranford campus of UnionCounty College — on weekendsthrough May 2, boasts of three fineactors, who know how to keep anaudience on the edge of its seat.

The play is an exceptional pieceof work that played off-Broadwayin 2005 and 2007, and in celebra-tion of the Theater Project's 2010opening, Director Mark Spina hasrevealed his artistic talents to make"Manuscript" an appealing, yetfrightening, certainly mysterious,vehicle. If the audience, whichpractically shares the stage with theperformers, can get past much ofthe profanity, spewed in momentsof frustration, it can settle back andattempt to sneak out of the darkremnants of the how's and why's.

The three performers appearglued to their roles and are splendidin convincing an audience of oneidea, while conjuring up shadowysecrets that place folks in a dither— wondering about that idea.

For example, Daniel Pietruszkaportrays David, one of three college

freshmen, who has written the firstdraft of a second manuscript and isfrustrated and apprehensive aboutits future. He and his two friends,Chris, played by Sean Mclntyre,and Elizabeth, played by RebeccaMoore, visit him in his familyhome during summer break fromcollege. Chris, who hails from awealthy family, and Elizabeth, whohas had a book published, are pre-sumed lovers, and visit Davidbefore going on to a formal ball.

What happens within this briefvisit — especially after the audi-ence is informed, rather dubiously,that David and Elizabeth had had abrief affair, unbeknownst to Chris—- has one wondering whether ornot these characters are what theyseem to be. There are intenselyemotional moments in which thethree appear to be involved in the

possibility of murder, deception,plagiarism, pretension, passionsand questionable sexuality.

A frustrated, bewildered, yetsatisfied audience, introduced itselfto the fine director and the threepromising actors at the end of theone-act play, which had no inter-mission.

Spina is to be congratulated forhis selections of unusual produc-tions, and marvelous actors, whogive their all to their director andplay. He always brings to New Jer-seyans, top quality talent and won-derful productions.

A reviewer, after witnessing"Manuscript" Sunday afternoon inCranford, wouldn't be surprised todiscover Alfred Hitchcock, hiddenin the shadows — while noddinghis head in appreciation andapproval.

Painting with Words' during Poetry MonthCelebrate National Poetry Month

with an evening of Poetry and Art atLes Malamut Art Gallery in Unionon April 29, at 7 p.m. This event isfree to the public.

Back by popular demand afterlast year's success, this poetry eventis part of an ongoing series of eventstaking place inside the gallery. Thisevening presents the opportunity tohear six New Jersey poets read theirwork.

Barbara Wirkus has had herpoems published in various poetrymagazines, including "Exit 13,""Poet Magazine," "Albatross LiteraryMagazine," as well as a chapbook,"Poems for Unpretentious People."

Leona M. Seufert has publisheda chapbook, "From Here to Thereand Back Again - A Commuter'sJourney," which grew from being acommuter into New York for 11months and spending two hours aday riding trains. She has also pub-lished The 9/11 Year, a signed, lim-ited edition, hand bound book ofpoems and essays about the after-math of Sept. 11, 2001 that camefrom a journal she kept during theyear following the World TradeCenter tragedy.

Chris Mclntyre is a co-founder ofthe Walking English poetry collec-tive and it's Web site, walkingeng-lish.com. His work has also been

published in "The Idiom Magazine" Center in Woodbridge. She is alsoand "Upstage Magazine."

He was an assistant editor for the"Idiom Anthology" in 2008. Hispoetry has been featured as part ofthe 2009 Long Branch Poetry Festi-val, the River Read Poetry Seriesand the Baron Arts Center's PoetsWednesday.

Joy Ann Lara is an artist whoseworks celebrate the synergy of paint-ing, poetry, dance and music. Herpoems have appeared in "Exit 13Magazine." She creates and presentsart lectures for children and adults.

Deborah LaVeglia, is well knownas the director of the "Poets Wednes-day" poetry series at the Barron Arts

the creator of a helpful Web site"PoetsWednesday & More," thatgives listings of many poetry eventsand venues. She has been publishedin numerous poetry journals includ-ing the "Paterson Literary Review,""American Poetry Journal," "Exit 13Magazine" and the "Edison LiteraryReview."

Harriet Swan Barkei enjoys writ-ing whimsical verses and an occa-sional essay. She. has petted "thebacks of bumblebees dozing at dawnin the dazzling dahlias danglingfrom her garden fence. She marvelsat the infinite beauty of God's cre-ation.

IMttiACAPPELLA!!

BOSTON'S ORIGINAL VOCAL POP BAND.THIS WEEKEND

Sunday - A p r i l 25 • 3PMFamily Workshop at 12:30PM

Workshop is ?BEi and the Concert

is Affordable.Call the Box Office forticket specials and more info,

STEVE SOLOMON'SMY MOTHER'S

One Night Only!Friday • April 30 • 8PMTwice the holidays!

Twice the hollering! Twice the guilt!

PETER AND THE WOLF &

MORE EVENTS...UCPACpresentsAllim>(eRe, H

a romantic comedy by Adam 8ockApril 30 • May 1,2,7,8,14,15,21,22Fridays & Saturdays at 8PMSunday -May 2 at 2PM

New leney Ballets

TAPPIN'WHHTHE BALLETSaturday May ! • 8PM

FAMSLYCOMIDYUIGHTLaughter 4 Your Soul

Thursday -May 6 • 7PMFeaturing:-Taylor Mason, Nema Williams G.L DouglasHosted fay: F.U.O.G.E. John Rickeitbackcr

www.ucpac.org