By Loyal Fairman
Council Bluffs, Iowa Daily Nonparei
Published: Thursday, August 27, 2009 11:30 AM CDT

OMAHA – The SNAP! Productions offering “Speech and Debate” features four talented actors. Director Daena Schweiger has assembled a good cast that makes you laugh while delivering a message about life.

As we await the lights to dim for the opening of the show, which runs 1 hour and 45 minutes without an intermission, we have the time to read and reread the messages projected on the screen. “Former Salem mayor instant messages 18-year-old man for sex,” is the message displayed on the screen.

The show does bring out the vulnerability that young people face from older, powerful people whether it is a teacher or a politician. It also shows the position that the older people face when a vindictive young person can bring up allegations against them.

The three young people are excellent. The girl, Diwata, is played by Colleen O’Doherty, who is the pivotal character in the comedy. She is the instigator for a lot of things that take place in the story. She also gets some of the funniest lines and some of the best adult language to deliver in the show. This show does have adult language and body stocking nudity. The body stocking nudity scene is extremely funny. She is quite a character and her blog does start a lot of interesting conversations. She is the rebel in the group and gets the two young male characters involved in activities that challenge the establishment.

Joe Fogarty plays Solomon, who opens the show searching for answers and challenging the system as a high school reporter. His freedom of speech rebellion against school officials – who keeps him from writing what he wants to in the paper – is a conflict that has faced many school reporters. He is very good in the role as the young man with his own secrets.

Noah Diaz plays Howie, who gets involved with the other two teenagers. He is gay and has known he was since 9 years of age. Well officially “10” as he tells us in the story. He is very good as the young man facing his own challenges of life.

There is a lot of blog activity and electronic displays in the show. It is a good comment on how young people communicate with each other today.

The fourth actor is Aisha Lomax, who does double duty as a teacher and a reporter. She is good in both roles. She is the adult who is avoiding controversy as the teacher involved with the school paper and the reporter trying to get the facts.

Brian Callaghan, who stage manages “Speech and Debate,” gets to make a few appearances on stage as a janitor. He is very funny in the role.

This quality production features many laughs and finds a way to deliver a very powerful message in the process. It runs Thursdays through Sundays through Sept. 13. The theater is located at 3225 California St. in Omaha. The box office can be reached at (402) 341-2757.

Reviewer Loyal Fairman can be reached

at loyal.fairman@woodbinetwiner.com.

review
Play about teens reveals funny and touching truths

By Bob Fischbach
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The title and most of the cast may be new to community theater regulars, but don't let that keep you away. SNAP Productions' “Speech & Debate,” which opened Thursday, is a sure bet to rank among this brand-new season's best comedies.

Playwright Stephen Karam's razor-sharp, sexually charged script about three contemporary high school misfits had a Wednesday preview crowd in stitches all night long — except when it left them silent and squirming at the characters' inner turmoil.

That feels like just what the author intended.

As they form their school's first speech and debate team in Salem, Ore., each teen is guarding a secret jeopardized by the others. And each is wrapped up in potential scandal over a school drama teacher who cruises gay teens.

“Speech & Debate” is a notch above because Karam gets how teens talk, connect online and work through life-changing problems — sometimes in isolation, sometimes reaching out, other times lashing out.

Shows about this age group don't often find this level of truth, and Karam doesn't shy away from adult language and situations.

Director Daena Schweiger matches Karam's words with straightforward, unflashy staging and puts the focus totally on the actors. An impeccable sense of pacing and comedic timing combine with careful attention to detail to bring these performances alive.

A heap of credit also goes to this young cast of four, all of whom give standout performances. Burrowing into the quirks of their characters, they find humor and grit by playing inner fear with honesty rather than hype.

Watch Aisha Lomax as a tightly wound journalism teacher on the defensive, trying to talk sense to her scandal-minded student, Solomon. Her rattled riff is unique, specific, very funny.

Joe Fogarty, as nerdy, buttoned-down Solomon, embodies a teeter-totter of anguish and sincerity. Working through sexuality problems and a strict religious upbringing, Solomon zeroes in on the hypocrisy of closeted politicians who push traditional family values.

Colleen O'Doherty is a standout as Diwata, a diva less talented than she imagines, whose driving force seems to be getting even with the drama teacher, who never casts her. But could loneliness be the real source of her aggression?

Noah Diaz projects a cool-customer edge as fast-talking Howie, who has been out and proud since he was 10. Diaz's best moments come when Howie confronts Diwata or Solomon with hard truth, or when his veneer of confidence breaks over how others might see him.

Some of the funniest bits come when the three sing (badly) or when they break into a painfully funny group-interp dance.

It's great stuff, as is a minimalist, black-and-white set design by Paul Pape that features pivoting, teardrop-shape platforms. Projected visuals and sharp sound cues are by Mark Cramer.

The show runs about 100 minutes, without intermission.

Contact the writer:

444-1269, bob.fischbach@owh.com