The school newspaper where I teach sent a student reporter out to write about the upcoming production of Que Sera, Giant Monster. Here's an excerpt of the article below:
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| SE students Lily Clouse and DaShaun Ellis rehearse for the SE play “Que Sera, Giant Monster,” opening on Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. | Joel Solis/The Collegian |
HOPE SMITH
The Collegian | campus editor
Thursday, November 10, 2022
It is convenient that two exes end up in the same craft brewery on the same night, just as a large monster is terrorizing the city just outside of it.
That is exactly what happens to the main characters Katherine and Charles in “Que Sera, Giant Monster” drama production, written and directed by Brad McEntire. Set to debut November 16-18 at 7:30 p.m. at the SE campus.
The production is described as both serious and humorous by SE student and actor Lily Clouse who plays the role of Katherine.
McEntire, an adjunct in the SE drama department teaching mainly cinema and theater classes, wanted the play to reflect certain theatrical aspects.
“It’s a little bit autobiographical in some places, and it’s a little bit of the kind of things I like to see on stage,” he said. “I like to see broken people try to figure stuff out, I like misunderstandings, I like people giving other people a hard time. So that kind of stuff, the stuff that I like to see onstage, is what I have tried to put into this play.”
"The characters are people trying to get by," McEntire says. "They are trying to figure out and navigate their lives, trying to understand themselves as well as the people around them."
“A lot of the trouble that we get into in our lives is because we don’t understand what we’re trying to do and we don’t understand what the people around us are trying to get from us and what they really want,” he said. "At least that is my observation."
Because of that, the characters felt relatable to the cast. For instance, Clouse, who’s character is a waitress and aspiring musician, acknowledged she sometimes empathized with Katherine's perspective.
“At the start of the show, she has just worked a double,” Clouse said. “She’s tired, she’s fed up, she doesn’t have time for anybody’s crap, and you know what? I feel that.”
The production process had the cast focused on learning more than just acting. Some of the cast members were tasked with picking up a new skill set or two. For instance, Isara Al-Hilo, a SE student who plays Beth in the play, acquired a useful new skill.
“I learned how to box a little, like, actual boxing techniques,” said Al-Hilo, adding with an ironic smile, “Put me in a ring, I’ll be fine.”
Clouse was given the task of learning a song on the guitar for the play, something she noted as a bit of a challenge.
“I wasn’t surprised, but I did not know how quickly time would fly and how difficult the guitar is,” she said.
Que Sera plays November 16–18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Roberson Theatre on the TCC Southeast Campus, 2100 Southeast Pkwy., Arlington, TX 76018. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can and the box office opens 1 hour before show time.
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