CLIFFhangers

Scripter Survives Stage Fright Safari

At 7:30pm on Friday Nov. 5th, T-Shirt Theatre's intrepid players will battle pythons, saw blades and the undead in ADE's 30th anniversary extravaganza, CLIFFhanger. And, yes, that's co-writer Walt Dulaney auditioning a crocodile for the show.

What's up? CLIFFhanger, a musical about Serial Survivors

When?        School shows, 1&3 November
                   Public shows, 7:30 Friday & 4:30 Sunday, 5&7 November

Where's it? Farrington HS Auditorium

How much? Calabash Donation

Buzz? 220-5003 Director George Kon

Alliance co-directors George Kon and Walt chose the old Saturday movie matinee serial format, to frame the learnings they've been privileged to make in three decades' pursuit of rehearse-for-life strategies.

From its 1980 founding, ADE has pursued one simple goal: to help island youngsters master performance skills needed to win jobs, justice and joy.

Sheltered by ohana support, isle keikis are wonderfully expressive. But confronted by oral communications assignments in class, too many students grow recessive (I can't) or aggressive (I won't). Area employers report the same dichotomy as job candidates avert eyes and mumble into their chests, or become aggressively belligerent (You gonna give me this job -or what?). Both responses reveal fear of rejection fueled by CLIFFhanger villains Shame and Mr. Con Formity.

Pollsters report most Americans would rather endure dental surgery than face an audience of strangers. Even teachers blanche at making a presentation to fellow educators. The "fight or flight" response did well for our caveman cousins, but elevates oral com. to mega-stress do-or-die melodrama that eclipses natural abilities and educated skills.

CLIFFhanger student heroes will be aided by a caring teacher, a mysterious Mr. M, and the three mentors who were primal in igniting ADE's mission. The perils equate stage and life fright fears ADE exists to alleviate.

The goal? What else drove those serials on-ward but the conviction that ...

• There is a treasure to be found. But it's not hidden in the ground.
   
• So lift your chin, and give that "how's it" grin, and never, ever doubt you'll win.

Our playwrights wed new lyrics to "There Is A Tavern in the Town" and then re- worked three other pre-1923 songs to complete the score that allows the cast to sing'n'dance through danger. "Bank an optimistic song in your heart and you'll sing the blues away," has been the mantra that propelled T-Shirt Theatre to stage 59 original shows.

Here's hoping you can cheer cast and creators forward, on Friday, 5 November.