On March 5th, the first performance of Queens College’s production of “Marvin’s Room” – directed by actor and acting teacher at QC, Claudia Feldstein – took place in the Goldstein Theatre on campus.
This production features Sena Ucaroglu as Bessie, Wilber Paiz Valenzuela as Dr. Wally, Elyse Price as Ruth, Octavio Villena as Bob, Jaylynn Rose as Lee, Myriam Sanon as Dr. Charlotte, Ryan Romano as Hank, Dylan Irizarry as Charlie, Karen-Gisel as the Retirement Home Director, and Kamron Tursunboev as Marvin.
According to the Kupferberg Center of the Arts, “Presented by the QC Department of Drama, Theatre, Dance & Fashion, “Marvin’s Room” is a moving story of one family’s journey through humor and heartache, separation and self-discovery.” The show follows Bessie, who has “been taking care of her ailing father for twenty years, but now she’s the one who’s sick, and she must reconcile with her estranged sister, Lee.”
This production of “Marvin’s Room” is unique because the audience is seated on stage, with a raised seating area for 100 people. This kind of seating made the audience’s experience feel incredibly intimate since they were seated in such close proximity to the set, even if they were sitting in the back row. Those seated in the front were at times less than a foot away from the actors.
The set plays a crucial role in theatre, shaping how the audience understands the world of the play. It’s one way for the audience to understand the setting as the show progresses, especially when different scenes require set changes.
Additionally, the actors did not wear microphones during the performance. This made it even more realistic as they spoke in a slightly elevated tone, and when they moved around the set into different rooms it felt like you moved into another room at home.
Overall, the emotions were raw and real. Throughout the play, we see Bessie’s physical condition worsen from diagnosis to the end of the play. Conversations never seemed scripted, pitch changes and yelling seemed to come right out of the actors, and the sobbing evoked so much emotion. When Bessie says, “I’m afraid to close my eyes. I’ll close my eyes and I won’t wake up,” and later, “I’m trying to be brave. But I’m scared. I’m scared”, there’s a good chance the audience around me heard my heart shatter and tears form, but I wasn’t the only one crying. We are introduced to the characters and their quirks on an intimate level, so seeing them express their full emotions leaves audience members wiping their tears by the end.
In “Marvin’s Room”, the main set was a home’s kitchen, living room, back hallway, and a bedroom. When the play moved to different settings, additional set pieces were placed in front of the main set. This was executed flawlessly, from the design of the physical set to the set pieces for scenes such as the doctor’s office. Inside the home there were items such as picture frames on walls and tables, cluttered countertops with kitchen appliances, a fridge almost full but never quite complete, and board games stacked in the living room. It was relatable and made the home feel lived in. This show is worth seeing. The talented cast, thoughtfully developed set, striking lighting cues, unique seating and a powerful playwright make the ticket worth the price. The production’s last performances will take place on Thursday, March 12th to Sunday, March 15th. The performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday will start at 7:00pm. While the performance on Sunday will start at 3:00pm. Use your Student ID to get a discount, or come on Friday night for an even lower price. Tickets can be purchased at the Kupferberg Center Box Office at Colden Theatre and online one hour prior to each performance.
