The wild, the regrettable and the downright weird converge in "Strange and Unusual Programs," a collection of highly entertaining live radio dramas at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Three performances of the program will take place Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 29, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Quick Center's Wien Experimental Theater.
Directed by Daniel Smith of New Haven, the evening celebrates lesser-known gems of the live radio genre, some of which are simply so bad they're good. The program begins with "Out of This World," a 1940s show that predicted the miracles of modern science would lead us to passenger trips to the moon by 1993.
Next up is "Roger Kilgore: Public Defender," an odd installment about a public defender who solves crimes. Art imitates life in this piece - sort of - as New Haven resident John Watson, a Connecticut public defender, takes the lead role.
The bizarre "Exploring the Unknown" is a dramatization of "modern" mental health in 1953, including psychotherapy, shock treatment and a woman's lobotomy.
The evening concludes with a suspenseful dollop of propaganda called "I Was a Communist for the FBI," which features undercover agents fighting the Cold War by infiltrating American Communists.
In addition to directing, Smith will perform organ and piano music for the show, which features live sound effects by Ted Powell of Stratford. The cast includes: Kimberly Mikenis, Stacy Bloxsom and Rob Rocke of New Haven; Joe Mango of Beacon Falls; Geoffrey Gilbert of Stratford; Bobby Thomas of Milford; and Josiah Rowe of Cheshire.
The Quick Center's radio drama season concludes with "Murder and Consequence," a spine-tingling program running for three performances on March 18 and 19.
Tickets to the evening of radio dramas are $15 each. For tickets, call the Quick Center box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396. For more information, visit www.quickcenter.com.
Posted On: 01-03-2005 10:01 AM
Volume: 37 Number: 127