Issue date: 10/17/06 Section: Culture

Media Credit: Courtesy of Chad Johannesen UNM student Babak Gharaei-Tafti, left, as Martin, and Tricklock Company actor Kevin Elder as Candide.

by Marcella Ortega

Daily Lobo



Sex-craving aliens and a fellatio-performing mermaid are just a couple ingredients spicing up an adaptation of Voltaire's Candide.

The adaptation opened last week at Rodey Theatre in UNM's Center for the Arts. The production is a collaboration between the Department of Theater and Dance and Tricklock Company.

It was written and directed by Joe Feldman.

"I thought he did a great job of putting it all together," UNM student and actor Babak Gharaei-Tafti said. "He had a nice vision for it."

Tricklock actor Kevin Elder stars as Candide, who travels from the old world through time periods and locations to find the object of his affection, Cunegonde.

"I think he (Feldman) took that sort of absurdity that Voltaire had, the sexiness that Voltaire had, and pumped it up so it would be absurd for a modern audience," Elder said. "He did a fantastic job maintaining Voltaire's original version of it, while making it something new."

Joe Peracchio, artistic director for Tricklock Company, produced the play and helped develop the script.

"We really wanted to bring Candide's epic story about growing up and learning about the world into modern times," he said. "Our real goal was to paint a picture of the chaotic and often cruel world that helps shape young people into adults."

Peracchio said the adaptation includes theater styles such as comedy, silent film and musical.

"We tried to make it an epic journey for Candide on his way around the world, as well as an epic journey through performance styles," he said.

Elder's character performs through most of the three-hour production.

"Part of it is easier for me because I am on stage the whole time," he said. "It doesn't feel as long as it really is. It's funny enough, and there is so much energy from the whole cast. As far as the amount of lines, it really wasn't a problem. Everyone does their job so well that my job becomes really easy."

Gharaei-Tafti, who has five roles in the play, said working with Tricklock Company has been a great experience.

"It's an excellent opportunity for finding out what the professional world is like," he said. "In my view, they are the best company around. They bring a lot to the table with their professional experience."

Peracchio said there are more than 100 characters in the play.

"For such a high comedy play, you need talented comedic actors to transform their voices to get the most comedy out of the script," he said. "We have people in this play playing mermaids, space aliens, gorillas, as well as kings and queens. Each character has to be distinctively different. It's a very intense process."

Peracchio said that when casting, he looked for creative and uninhibited students who were willing to try anything on stage.

"When you create a new work, you need brave, talented people willing to explore the characters," he said. "They are some of the best actors in the whole department."



"Candide"

Rodey Theatre

Through Oct. 29

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays

7:30 p.m.

Sunday

2 p.m.

$20 adults

$15 seniors and UNM faculty

$10 UNM staff and students

Thursday Oct. 19 half price for UNM students

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