THEATER REVIEW:Some hits, some misses in OCC’s shorts festival

Turn a handful of college students loose on a handful of computers and you’re likely to get a mixed artistic bag of short plays, several of which are on display at Orange Coast College’s 10 or Less Festival.

The program’s premise is that a situation can be created, performed and resolved in under 10 minutes of stage time. At least five of OCC’s attractions are student written and directed, showcasing the talents to be found in the college’s Repertory Theater Company.

Kicking off the evening is “A Tale of Two Kings,” written and directed by OCC’s resident student playwright, Sean Engard. Here two rulers (Tim Zimmer and Jesse Moriarty), whose nations are at war, meet face to face for a showdown of sorts, with negotiation leading, inevitably, to armed conflict. It’s a sharp, satirical piece obviously inspired by current events.

“Always” by Jon Jory is one of the published entries and is cleverly directed by Amy Abbascia. Here two couples — both named Ellen and Joe — act out the highlights of a relationship, one developing (Farrell Anna Roth and Jeff Kieviet) and one disintegrating (Jill Prout and Casey Moriarty). Nicely done on both counts.

Actor Zaid Tabani steals the show in David Ives’ “Arabian Nights,” directed by Samantha Wellen, as an overenthusiastic interpreter interceding between a tourist (Dustin Lemos) and a merchant (Laura Palacios). It’s intentionally rushed and terrifically funny.

The Almighty takes a prominent place in Kieviet’s “And the Lord Said Unto Thee …,” which he also directs. It’s a wacky tale about a young man (Casey Moriarty) who claims to be the “third son of God” and his disbelieving buddy (Tim Zimmer). Courtney Chudleigh, a busy actress for the evening, is along for the ride.

“Catastrophe” by Samuel Beckett is just that, an ill-conceived piece of intended satire that merely takes up time and space under the direction of Arash Karami. Dan Barnard and Erin Braswell are a director and his assistant creating a human art form (Eric Rosales) for reasons of their own. Like most Beckett plays, it raises more questions than it answers.

Kieviet and Melissa Maurizi have it out in a restaurant over her propensity for carting around the most insignificant objects in “One Tennis Shoe” by the eminent satirist Shel Silverstein. Amanda Jimenez directs the escalating argumentative encounter with a fine comic flair.

Probably the best playlet of the bunch, or at least the most well received, is writer-director Tabani’s “Relationship Scenes Suck,” in which a contentious couple (Chudleigh and Jesse Moriarty) commiserate over their relationship while their stand-ins (Taylor McDermott and Casey Moriarty) act out their issues in the background. The dialogue is wittily written and deliciously delivered.

“When Stuffed Animals Attack,” written and directed by Prout, seems to stretch the 10-minute limit as it presents three instances of toys on the offensive. Chudleigh is especially effective as a sexy mother on the prowl, while Barnard makes an erudite host.

Wrapping things up is “Colored Friends,” written and directed by James Black, which simply presents a handful of crayons of differing hues learning to coexist in the same box. It’s short and to the point in a brisk staging.

The 10 or Less Festival offers OCC students an ideal opportunity to flex their artistic muscles, and a few of this year’s offerings truly hit the bull’s eye. As with any program of this nature, it’s a mixed bag.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: 10 or Less Festival

WHERE: Orange Coast College Studio Theater

WHEN: Closing performances tonight & Saturday at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday, Sunday at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday

COST: $6 - $7

CALL: (714) 432-5880