GRCC Players will present the one-act play “Crooked” this weekend.
Written by Catherine Trieschmann and directed by Michelle Urbane, the three-character play is about a troubled 14-year-old aspiring writer with a back disability, Laney, who struggles to find herself. With her new not-so-smart Christian friend Maribel, Laney considers the ideas of Christianity and Lesbianism as a way to cope with her mother Elise being newly divorced from her father.
“What I found so sweet about it (the play) is it is this coming of age story with these girls who are both trying to find their way but not being ashamed of what their lives are,” Urbane said.
Jessi Towell, 20, of Grand Rapids, who is playing the role of Laney, said she was inspired to audition when she felt a variety of emotions reading the script the first time.
“When I read this, I laughed at many, many points throughout,” Towell said. “It was just a very, very emotional read, and that’s not very easy for me to come by. I don’t get choked up as easily as some people, I guess, so I thought something that could do that would be important.”
Meeka Postman, 18, of Grand Rapids, who is playing Maribel in her first GRCC Player production, thought she would be perfect for her role in the play.
“I was homeschooled, and I am a Christian, so I was like, “I could totally play Maribel!” Postman said. “I understand her. I understand her soul.”
Aubrey Pierzchala, 22, of Grand Rapids, playing Elise, was attracted to the dynamic of a black box play and the very small cast.
“It was a really intimate cast and set and everything,” Pierzchala said. “It’s just three people. It’s very personal, and I really liked that.”
Though there was not a large turnout at auditions, which Urbane believes is due to the nature of the play and the rehearsal time during the winter break, she said the casting worked out well.
“I’m so thrilled with this cast,” Urbane said. “And my designers have been amazing.”
The “Crooked” cast will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Room 201 of the Spectrum Theater building. Enter through the side student entrance and take the stairs to the second floor.
Tickets are $3 for GRCC students, $5 for GRCC staff and other students, and $10 for general admission.
We loved this production! The script was real, and the acting and directing were superb. We were drawn right into the characters and their interations. Great job, ladies!