June 22, 2006

Cast principals of YS Kids Playhouse production of Seven 2nd Chances, clockwise from top: Adam Zaremsky, Emily Reth, Jake Kintner, Max Fleishman, Porter Fitch, Elliot Cromer and Erin Turner. Performances will be held June 22–25 and June 29–July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Antioch Amphitheatre.

By Tara Miller

The energy and excitement inside Antioch Theater was certainly contagious recently as actors rehearsed the YS Kids Playhouse production, Seven 2nd Chances, by George Sand. A “circus atmosphere” infuses the play, director John Fleming said of the original musical that features, among other things, a kazoo band and an actor on stilts.

Performances will take place Thursday–Sunday, June 22–25 and Friday–Sunday, June 29–July 2. All performances are at 7:30 p.m. in the Antioch Amphitheater.

Music is composed and designed by Tucki Bailey, who plays electric keyboard. Chris Sloan plays acoustic bass and Julian Anderson is on drums. Choreography is by Jacobee Buchanan and costumes are created by Ali Thomas. The stage manager is Chloe Ramsay and the art director is Pierre Nagley.

In a recent interview, Fleming said he “wanted to create a play that appropriated the dynamics of hip-hop music — the going back and rewinding.” Fleming got the idea for the story while reading a book on seven basic plot forms, he said, and he became “aware of how one person’s life could cycle through different stories.” He gave the idea to Sand, who wrote the play.

The play centers on a man, Gilbert Swindle, who receives seven pivotal opportunities to make different choices concerning his life but keeps making choices that bring personal gain rather than bringing greater community good or making a choice for love. Swindle is played by actor Peter Keahey, 16 years old and in his “sixth or seventh play.” Erin Turner, Yellow Springs, who plays Penny, Swindle’s love interest, is also 16 and this is her fifth play for YS Kids Playhouse.

At the beginning of a production, Fleming said he holds a “town forum” with the actors to discuss what the play is about, but as the actors rehearse they begin to see things on their own. “It’s in doing that we figure things out,” he said. Fleming said he only recently became aware how the play also has an underlying theme of looking at how we use resources and for what reasons.

Most of the actors taking part are local and area young people, but Emily Reth, 13, commutes daily from Indiana. She plays Lorraine in the play and this is her second YSKP play. She said she “has a lot of friends here and the plays are interesting and fun.”

Many of the actors expressed similar sentiments, along with their hopes of continuing on in the profession. Liana Rothman, Yellow Springs, said this is her fifth play and it’s fun to be with everyone involved. “John helps you express yourself,” she said. Liana hopes to act on Broadway.

This is also the fifth play for Zyna Bakari and Anne Weigand, both from Yellow Springs. Bakari wants her own show on the Disney channel and hopes to win an Emmy; Weigand hopes to be stage manager next year. Both actresses said they create new friendships from their participation.

Malaika Carver, Yellow Springs, who also hopes to be a stage manager someday, said that being in YSKP is “better than staying home and sleeping in or playing computer.”

All the kids agreed it’s the original stuff that keeps them coming back. Among the many benefits they reap from participation, they also “tend to do better in school,” Fleming said. YS Kids Playhouse has received endowments from the National Endowment for the Arts and has been recognized by the Ohio State Arts Council.

Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students. Ages 3 and younger are free. Reservations can be made by calling 769-1030.