By Kelli Green & Jennifer Tonnaer
Pensacola State College students and local community members will showcase their talents in “Six Degrees of Separation,” an upcoming production from PSC’s Performing Arts Department. Students are encouraged to come out to the Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, Building 8 on the Pensacola PSC campus, to check out the play when it comes to the stage March 3-6. The Thursday, Friday and Saturday showtimes are at 7:30pm. and the Sunday show starts at 2:30pm.
Six Degrees of Separations is a “two-million dollar” show, written by John Guare and directed by Dr. Rodney Whatley. It’s full of the perfect amount of wit and sincerity that will prove just how closely some separations run.
The 1993 Olivier award winning play brings a riveting tale based on true events about a con man who manages to connect himself with several people through his schemes. The play introduces this swindler as charming and young Paul (Elijah Posey), who meets a rich New York couple, Ouisa and Flan Kittredge (Nicole Dickson and Jack Tyson).
Paul manages to earn the couple’s trust by claiming he knows their children, as well as making use of his charismatic and intelligent nature. Along with this, his appealing claim on being the son of actor Sidney Poitier has the two wrapped around his finger.
Having no doubts in Paul, the couple invites him to stay the night, but things soon take an unexpected turn as they later discover him in bed with a random hustler from the street. From then on, Paul disappears and Ouisa and Flan are desperate to see him caught. The two end up conversing with friends and acquaintances, discovering that they aren’t the only ones who have been caught up in Paul’s scheme.
Relationships grow complicated and a darker tone shadows over the play. Paul’s scheming habits start to catch up with him, and, despite the trouble he brings to everyone, perhaps Paul’s role in these stranger’s lives will leave something more than just contempt.
When asked about the play and why people should go and see it, Whatley said that the production displays a disconnect in the generation between parents and children, and shows the deadening effect on family.
“It’s a great work of art. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll become a part of it. You’ll leave inspired.”
“It’s about this random stranger coming in and basically turning everyone’s lives upside down, making them question everything,” said Posey. “People should come out to see this because this is an extremely deep play. It’s hard for me to put it words everything a person can get from this. There are memorable characters that you will definitely not forget.”
“It touches on homosexuality, passion, lust, money and almost all of the seven sins. It’s a very unique play,” said assistant director Damon Laterella. “There’s a unique cast of characters, and a lot of ups and downs between them. You just have to come see it to really understand.”
All PSC students can attend the show for free as long as they bring their student IDs. PSC faculty/staff, retirees and PSC Seniors Club members ticket prices are $7, reserved admission ticket prices $11 and 60+ seniors and Non-PSC students are $9. Tickets may be purchased on the PSC website at www.pensacolastate.edu/lyceum or at Building 8, Room 861, between 8:30am to 4pm, Monday-Friday. Tickets can also be bought at the door an hour before the performance.
The cast members include: Nicole Dickson as Ouisa, Jack Tyson as Flan, Lexi Cintron as Geoffrey, Elijah Posey as Paul, Keegan Sweet as Hustler, Bethany Kolb as Kitty, Chris Mandel as Larkin, Kelli Green as Detective, Hannah Sutton as Tess, Jennifer Cumbie as Woody, Branden Ellington as Ben, Benjamin Vath as Dr.Fine, Lexi Langston as Doug, Jessica Freeman as Policeman, Ashley Kellenbergert as Doorman, Daniel Pitsenbarger as Trent, Loren Stone as Rick and Elaina Keyes as Elizabeth.
Call the Lyceum Box Office at (850) 484-1847 for more information or to make reservations.
