The comforting setting of the well-built set on stage made me curious about what the play would be about, as I had never seen it before. The sweet simplistic and comfortable details made it look like the phrase “home sweet home”. Pocatello kicks off with a unique introduction. The characters are speaking simultaneously as there are two scenarios going on at the same time, two of them having the same amount of tension in which the actors exceptionally portray. Right off the bat, my first impression was, “This is going to be a really interesting play.”
Generally, the actors managed to introduce comic relief within the tension in a manner where it comes off as very funny rather than plain old awkward to the audience. It’s a mixture of skilled and suited body language, perfect timing, and good diction. Although some scenarios/words were vulgar at times, the actors didn’t fail to make those moments funny. In addition to the diction, I could hear all the characters loud and clear even when they spoke really fast. It was very pleasant to be able to understand everything they said.
As the play progresses, you can really feel a strong connection to the characters. Although at first, most of the characters may come out as funny people doing funny things, the plot becomes more serious. These fellow Dean College performers executed the scenes in a way where the play had a good balance of going from comical to serious to sentimental in a split second. As I continued watching the show, I was wanting more and more. More comic relief, more character development, and more scenes that would catch me off guard.
Sometimes sentimentality is put in the spotlight as comic relief is pushed to the side, making people have strong feelings towards the characters. On the contrary, the seriousness of the characters would be funny at times. Even when the characters weren't saying anything, I could sense their emotions by the way they did things in the background. In addition, the characters tend to emotionally explode in a very angry yet fitting and enthralling manner.
Overall, the play was yet another Dean College theatrical success. I genuinely admire the people who put in so much effort into this play, including the production staff with the on-point lighting and sound. Personally, the ending hit like a truck, and I couldn’t stop crying. The plot and action really emphasized the phrase “There is no place like home, even if it’s not perfect.”
Have an opposing viewpoint to this opinion? Let us know. All views are welcome. Send your thoughts to our Editorial Staff – Editor Dylan Hicks dhicks@student.dean.edu or Dean Daily Faculty Advisor, Professor John Rooke jrooke@dean.edu
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