Finding love, avoiding sharks

by Eva Dameron

Daily Lobo

The play "Seascape with Sharks and Dancer" is so well-written and well-done that actor Barney Lopez is emotionally exhausted after rehearsal.

"By the end of the night, I'm worn out. And I'm so worn out I feel like downing a bottle of vodka in depression," Lopez said. "It's a very strenuous relationship, and it's tough to go through because it's every night putting yourself in that moment."

The play, written by Don Nigro and directed by student Brandon Weaver, tells the love story of Ben (Lopez) and Tracy (Katy Bowen). Tracy thinks all relationships turn into nightmares, and all men are sharks. When she finds a kind man in Ben, she struggles to turn him into a shark. Set in a beach bungalow, she meets Ben after he saves her from the ocean.

"She can't relate to other people very well. I think a lot of us have these types of things and feelings - that relationships are doomed," Weaver said. "Through this play, there's an overarching theme of love conquering all, and I think that's the core idea behind this piece. And I find it almost applicable to anyone. I hope it kind of helps people get over some of those fears and self-doubts of interaction and relationships."

Weaver said he sees Tracy as the dancer from the play's title.

"And the sharks were the people or men in her life that were just like that - sharks," he said. "They were dangerous and perhaps vicious toward her, mean to her, malicious."

Bowen and Lopez interpreted the title differently.

"We decided they were both dancers in a way because neither of them are the sharks," Bowen said. "Sharks are more or less problems - though she does refer to them as sharks throughout the play."

Weaver, a senior, said he was drawn to the play when he read it as a freshman because it was smart and well-written, and he loved its comedic aspect.

"It was entertaining simply to read it," Weaver said. "That was a big sell for me to direct it, or at least be involved in it some way."

He also got composition student Mark Oates involved. He is probably the most well-known crew member, Weaver said. Oates, who has worked with Grammy-winning artists,

composed the play's music.

"He usually composes for movies, and this is the first play he's directed music for," Weaver said. "It's unfortunate you don't get to hear more of this music throughout the play. We use it more for transition music."

Oates said Weaver gave him visual cues and described how the play would translate to cinematic form to assist him in creating the score.

"He told me what the scenes are going to look like, the colors - bluish, greenish, seascape-ish, and that's really important to know," Oates said. "Visually, it's important to coordinate here."

Lopez said the play doesn't have a typical happy ending.

"But it's up to interpretation, at the end, whether this couple is going to stay together or not," he said.

"Seascape with Sharks and Dancer"

Thursday-Saturday

7:30 p.m.

Sunday

6 p.m.

Theatre X in Popejoy Hall

$10 general, $8 faculty and seniors, $7 students and staff