MadLab presents Ira Gamerman's 'Split'

C-bus theatre troupe brings new play and a directorial debut

By Dwayne Steward

Metromix

If anything, MadLab-the Columbus-based, off-beat theatre troupe specializing in comedic performances full of shock value and innuendo-is known for its experimentation. Always seeming attracted to the ‘new,' like a moth to a flame. This weekend will be no different as they open Ira Gamerman's "Split" on Friday (running Fridays and Saturdays until Dec. 20), a debut for Columbus and a directorial debut for a MaLab faithful.

Jennifer Feather, who's been writing and acting with MadLab for the past five years, took up the directing reins for the first time on "Split." Not unusual for the MadLab staff, who are known for donning many different hats to make sure their non-profit organization puts on productions year-round without a hitch. But for Feather this next step was pretty huge, definitely more then just a helping hand.

"I went to the directors and said this seems to be a show I can do, but soon it became this is a show I must do," said Feather who's been involved with theater much of her life due, in part, to her parents who have also made their living on or behind the stage. "It's a logical step and I've got a bit of a learning addiction."

Her passion for acting easily transferred when she took over the project.

"Directing isn't terribly unlike acting," she said. "They say acting is actually just reacting to people around you. And to direct you must watch as much as you tell."

Feather said Gamerman's play struck her visually. She credits her vision for the play and its set design as a part of probably why she was chosen to direct it. "Split" revolves around Adam (played by Philip Hickman), a 24-year-old whose life is defined by a flailing music career, his overprotective girlfriend (Sarah Brunet)-whose resemblance to his mother has Freudian implications-and his two imaginary friends-one of which is a ‘90s version of Vince Vaughn (Jason Sudy). The audience follows Adam on a journey of self discovery when he finds himself tragically and hilariously confronted by his past.

"It's really accessible absurdism with a very common theme of self discovery," said Feather, who's a clerk with the Ohio Department of Taxation by day and also heads Internal Staffing for MadLab. "At one point and time everyone was an idiot 23-year-old...[you] had to go through that post-college let down, when you're starting to figure out that you don't know everything."

The play is a bit of an autobiographical confessional, Gamerman himself being a young writer who's trying to jumpstart the success of his band, "Even So..." Though young, Gamerman, a Baltimore native, has been making a bit of a splash, with "Split" being featured in the Baltimore Playwrights Festival and receiving some favorable reviews in the "Chicago Sun-Times" and "The Baltimore Sun." He and his band will be making an appearance at a public party following MadLab's Nov. 29th performance of "Split."

Feather spent some time chatting with Gamerman during "Split's" initial production to hash out her conception of the play, which will feature an intricate, revolving stage, something that definitely hasn't been seen at the theatre before. Like most, that's one of the reasons she continues to actively make MadLab a part of her life.

"It fulfills some very basic needs as an artist and a human being," she said. "I get to create something every single day...and I need that as an artist."