Valley Star

Issue date: 5/26/04 Section: Valley Life

Media Credit: scott howard working

A play based on the book of interviews with American Workers by Studs Terkel, 'Working' takes the points of view from 26 workers and welds them together to form a musical about wishful thinking. Pete Parkin and the Valley College Theatre Department presented the Stephen Schwartz adaptation of 'Working' to a mixed crowd Saturday night in the Horseshoe Theater.

An opening from Alec Ledd, took a direction that no audience should have to steer. Corny antics and poor standup had the guests wondering when the show would begin. The cast shortly followed as a group of everyday Americans, including an ironworker, schoolteacher, migrant worker, hooker and a housewife.

The mob left the stage after an opening cast song and left ironworker Mike Dillard, played by David Damiani. Damiani knows what it's like to work as he attends Valley to avert his student loan collection agency. At the end of each song the worker would exit as a new one came on stage. A short introduction of their characters followed by a song seemed to be the procedure. Valley native Jessica Raymond entertained the crowd with her spunky energy and melodious voice, something that wasn't consistent for the rest. Her role as a supermarket checker and a political fundraiser were dynamic as she brought a unique life to both of them. Vincent Perez played a migrant worker and box boy singing a beautiful piece in Spanish. A full cast song ended the first act.

Part two seemed to adopt the first acts habits as we just moved into more workers, with a stone mason, interstate trucker, fireman and ex-copy boy. A splendid performance from cast members Julia Goretsky playing a waitress and Don Frabotta as a retired man seemed to have the second act move more smoothly.
The band provided clean crisp sounds allowing the singers room for error and made for a wonderful soundtrack to the Valley actors pleasing performance.

"Working" will continue this weekend in the Horseshoe Theater at 8 p.m. Admission is $8.

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