In a style reminiscent of 1994’s cult classic “Clerks,” the University student-directed and -designed theatrical production “Peppermint Mocha” opens tonight, bringing its audience a clever parody of modern culture, Northwest attitude and the search for identity and romance.
The play is carried out through the real and imaginary experiences of James, a young blogger (played by Derek Verhoest),@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Derek+Verhoest@@ as he hangs around the suspiciously familiar “Czarbucks Coffee.”
The humor of the slightly ambiguous production is carried out by the hodgepodge of customers who visit “Czarbucks” throughout the day. As the characters pass through the coffee shop, their personalities and roles are simultaneously told in the voice of James’ blog.
“Peppermint Mocha is about someone trying to find their place,” University student and playwright Phillip Morton said.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Phillip+Morton@@ “The writer James sees all these stereotypes and doesn’t have one himself, and that’s where the main conflict lies.”
Morton explained that the juxtaposition of the characters representing different stereotypes comes from a style of theater that became popular during the late 17th century, when a genre known as “Commedia dell’arte” really took off.
“All you have is a scenario with a bunch of different characters and then you watch all the action that ensues by mashing them up,” Morton said.
“Peppermint Mocha” was the winner of the University’s 2011 New Voices playwriting contest.@@http://www.calendar.uoregon.edu/EventList.aspx?fromdate=10/20/2011&todate=10/20/2011&display=Day&type=public&eventidn=781&view=EventDetails&information_id=4857@@ In this competition a panel of judges reviews script submissions from students and then selects one to produce the following fall.
Brian Cook,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Brian+Cook@@ a judge on the panel and also the director of “Peppermint Mocha,” explained why the New Voices production is unique amongst other plays put on by the department.
“The department produces five shows a year that are mostly finished scripts — they’re about actors and designers. This is the one place in the whole program that a playwright gets to have their work produced,” Cook said.
Throughout the summer, Cook worked together with Morton to rewrite and rehash the script.
“Altogether we went through eight drafts. In the first two weeks of rehearsal, Phil was around a lot. I wanted to make sure that he felt included, that he got to hear the play aloud,” Cook said. “That way he’d get to change things that didn’t sound right or weren’t working the way he wanted them to work.”
Also unique to this production was the way that a few of the cast members auditioned. Brittany Dorris,@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Brittany+Dorris@@ who plays a radio host named Quinn, described the unusual circumstances.
“I was in London studying abroad with the theater department. We heard while we were over there that ‘Peppermint Mocha’ auditions were happening,” Dorris said. “Me and three other people auditioned over Skype in the lobby of our hostel.”
The crew began working on the play the week before school started. Through all the rehearsals, reworking the script and coming up with the design, Dorris explained, a bond formed.
“We’re just like a little family. These people become your family for the month and a half that you’re with them — I love these people.”
@@BREAKOUT BOX@@
@@’Peppermint Mocha’ written by Phillip Morton and Directed by Brian Cook@@
@@October 20, 21 and 22 at 5 p.m.@@
@@Pocket Playhouse FREE@@
@@102 Villard Hall@@