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The big squeeze
 Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page D3 of Arts
By KAREN SHADE World Scene Writer
09/14/2005

Quirky characters populate scenes in Heller's 'Somewhere in Between'
The last time he directed a show at Heller Theatre, Jarrod Kopp showed us a man who ran about the streets of New York City convinced he was Degas. That was in August 2004's "Mere Mortals," a collection of five one-act plays turning a comedic light on some rather eccentric folks. Kopp directed two of the short works.

For his next directorial project, Heller's "Somewhere in Between" (opening Thursday), he goes beyond the one-act form, but doesn't sacrifice his attraction to quirky characters, who pepper this tale of an everyman named Jasper.

"It's about a young man who's kind of stuck in neutral. He's been in that post-college limbo from adolescence to adulthood way too long," Kopp said.

The play, written by Craig Pospisil, is presented as a series of scenes.

Todd Hanlin (left) and Nate Gavin argue during a scene from Heller Theatre’s production of “Somewhere in Between.”

SHERRY BROWN / Tulsa World
"It actually sounds a little bit disjointed because it's told in 10 scenes with one main character who meets all these offbeat characters," he said.

Jasper (Todd Hanlin) meets one character after another during a weekend fraught with hang-ups and disappointments. But not everything is as it appears.

Kopp, who last exercised his comedy acting chops on stage in Theatre Tulsa's "The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged)" in July, has worked with many actors on Tulsa's stages over the years.

When he held auditions for roles for the Heller show, he remembered Hanlin from American Theatre Company's "Zombies From Beyond" this summer and March's "The Madwoman of Chaillot."

"As I recall, in the audition I liked that he gave this general presence, communicating general anxieties, but he still retained a certain likability. He wasn't morose or negative all the time," Kopp said.

Hanlin said the choice was very deliberate.

"I found the part very interesting to play, and that's what I wanted to do. I tried to put more of a loveable character in him, to not make the audience feel sorry for him, but to put them more into the position where he's at, to make him seem more sympathetic. . . . He hates his job, has a hard time with women."

Over a span of several days, Jasper meets strangers, co-workers and neighbors who spout wisdom and hot air -- advice for better and worse.

Jasper gets to dissect everything to find a way through his own chaos.

Hanlin said he identified with his character and shares a lot of common mannerisms with Jasper, but found conveying that on stage a challenge.

"This is one of my first big lead roles, and I'm trying to ... put all my effort into it. It's has been very time-consuming, but it's been something I've been very glad to be a part of," Hanlin said.

Kopp may be working with a full-length play for this production, but he still likes to break with some conventions.

"Somewhere in Between" does not have an intermission and runs about 90 minutes.

He served on the Heller Theatre play selection committee that pulled the current season from a list of titles and options for the little black-box stage. He said he enjoyed reading the dialogue in the play. That has not changed.

"It's not a heavy play," he said. "It's a light, romantic comedy. We're all agreed on that. But it's nice to have a little dessert thrown in with everything else."

The cast also includes Ione Blocker, Traci Conway, Mary Forester, Nate Gavin and Jamie Vannoy.



Karen Shade 581-8334
karen.shade@tulsaworld.com

Theater
“SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN”
When:
8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. The show also runs at 8 p.m. Sept. 22-24.
Where:
Heller Theatre, 5328 S. Wheeling Ave.
Admission:
tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors For more information, call 746-5065 or go online to www.hellertheatre.com.

This site sponsored by Heller Theatre Council.
To contact the webmaster e-mail alb74066@aol.com or Heller Theatre at Parktheater@ci.tulsa.ok.us

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