The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Leni Santoro

On Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22 Act-Up Teen Theater presented Venus Fly Trap, a radio play, at the CAS Arts Center in Livingston Manor. Written and directed by Ramona Jan with musical direction by Andre Turan, the radio play presents the daydream of an aspiring musical performer and the twists and turns that occur in her daydream. Reality eventually peeks in at the end and during the question and answer period following the performance when “all is revealed,” so to speak.

Act-Up Teen Theater is the brainchild of Ramona Jan.

“Ramona Jan is the writer and director,” began Kathryn Tufano, Staff/ Executive Director of the CAS Arts Center. “She is also the creator of the soft sculptural collection across the hall [in Gallery Two], and one of those twenty-eight dolls across the hall is Fly herself, the protagonist of this radio play and she has come to life.”

Jan explained that, “One day I got a call from Kathryn after the [doll] show was booked and she asked me if I would do a play related to the exhibit. The exhibit is autobiographical . One of the characters is named Fly. Basically it is a true story. It was a story about my adventures as a street busker. I did work at Harry’s Hardware Store…none of it was a day dream. We did get stranded and arrested in Europe. So basically that was that little segment…If you read the book in the next room you’ll see under “Fly” I mention the hardware store.” [to busk, for those who may not know the term, means to play music or perform entertainment in a public place, usually while soliciting money.]

Jan went on to tell how Act Up Teen Theater started a few years ago.

“The first performance was at the Jeffersonville Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library,” she said. “I started it because my daughter was interested in the theater and I just didn’t think there was enough going on, so I thought I’ll make a theater group and it would be easier to do a radio play because no one has to memorize lines, you don’t have to memorize blocking…you can do it anywhere.”

The story of Venus Fly Trap centers on a young girl who daydreams that she and her friends have started a singing group that then goes on to tour Europe, eventually winding up with a record deal.

“When I was nineteen I moved to New York City and started a punk rock band,” said Jan. “These are actually songs I wrote when I was 19.”

The singers, Rosie played by 13-year old Cindy Zheng from Livingston Manor, Starla played by 13 year-old Kelsey LeLand from Ellenville and Lucky played by 15-year old Christine Troianello from Callicoon were amazing and put on a wonderful performance, crediting their music director Andre Turan with their success.

Cooper Zurad is 14 and lives in Honesdale.  He says that he has been in other theater productions, but says that even though he had less lines this time (speaking the few lines given to The Bobbie, Pedro and Bart), he explained he really enjoyed being a foley. A foley is a person that makes all the sound effects.

Zoe Curad aged 15 was the key foley.

“The key foley is the person that has to make sure all the other foleys are doing their sound effects in order,” she explained. “There were a lot of sound effects to keep track of, but it was pretty easy once you got used to who was going to make which sound effect.”

Jan explained that the director rehearses the sound effects as a third orchestra. The actors then become the audience and judge whether it sounds authentic.

Besides getting all the sound effects in order the actors also were treated to the experience of busking itself when Jan took the show to the streets of Livingston Manor.

“I did actually take them out on the streets to busk, because I felt they needed a little method acting – we made five bucks, which we promptly spent at the ice cream store. They were a little surprised by that. But, everyone enjoyed it,” said Jan.

And the cast agreed. “It was cool. We had fun!”

If you missed the opportunity to witness Venus Fly Trap and this remarkable group of young performers, they will be appearing at the Bethel Harvest Market in October.

To view more photos from The Once and Present Reality of Venus Fly Trap visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.