Theater Review: “The Contest”

Choices ““ we all make them, but can we all live with their consequences?

Powerhouse Theatre’s production of “The Contest” explores this question as it follows the story of three art school students and the repercussions of their choices 15 years later.

This comic drama follows the life paths of Karl, Amanda and Faith and the changes that occur as a result of their school’s career-launching contest. Relationships end, new ones begin and people are taken down unexpected roads when the winner of this contest is revealed. Fifteen years later all three settle into the lives they would have never imagined. While some learn to graciously accept it, others are haunted by their decisions and the results that affected not just them, but also those who they loved most.

The play’s themes form a strong base for an unfortunately weak frame. The events that play out and the way in which they are played proved to be cliche and in many instances predictable.

For instance, a particularly predictable moment is a scene between Karl and Amanda, where they profess their love for each other. Their love is so consuming that they lunge forward into each other and kiss passionately, so much so that they fall to the ground and start rolling around, very a la soap opera. But their passion is quickly interrupted when they are oh-so-surprisingly caught by someone who is not supposed to see them, even though they are making out in this person’s house.

Another variance is the performance of the actors. Both Karl, played by UCLA alumnus Albert Meijer, and Faith, played by Heleya de Barros, remain consistent and veraciously carry the play’s most poignant moments, while Amanda, played by Jules Willcox, is a pitfall in the beginning of the play.

She becomes progressively better as she evolves from a 22-year-old art student to a 37-year-old woman. Playing a much younger age in the beginning causes Willcox to fall into the acting trap of playing young. She is so focused on playing the idea of young that the actual character gets lost within a big stereotype. But in the second half her comfort level is raised, bringing forth many good moments that ring very true to her character and to the situation.

Yet the most consistent character portrayal is Dan Kozlowski, who plays Jerome, a prominent art teacher. His character is more than just the comic relief of the play, largely because of the actor’s palpable enjoyment in playing this character. His commitment is a delightful experience for the whole audience.

While the play has moments that feel contrived and overdone, it nonetheless portrays themes that most college students can relate to, as we are all in the crucial years in our lives where our choices can take us down endlessly varying roads.

““ Mariel Martinez

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