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Hernando Today

Central High Tackles Broadway Hit With 'Intelligent Life'

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By TONY MARRERO

Published: December 1, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Lily Tomlin did it all by herself, but half a dozen Central High School students are having fun sharing the load — and hoping their thespian efforts will reach audiences beyond Hernando County.

Six of the school's veteran actors will present "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe," by Jane Wagner, for a two-night run this Friday and Saturday.

It's the story of a delusional bag lady named Trudy who believes she's been tasked with teaching aliens about life on Earth. Trudy, played by 16-year-old junior Stephanie Tavolaro in Central's production, channels a dozen personalities to provide a sampling of Earthlings.

Tomlin, a comedic legend who became a regular presence on America's televisions after joining the cast of "Laugh-In" in 1969, wowed audiences and drew acclaim from critics when she first performed the play on Broadway in 1985 as a one-woman show. Tomlin earned a Tony Award for best actress.

The Central students weren't born when the play hit Broadway (though Tavolaro noted Tomlin was on "Desperate Housewives" last week) and couldn't find a tape of Tomlin's legendary performance.

That's OK, says Alexandra Hantzis, a 17-year-old senior who plays Marge, one of three characters who come of age during the feminist movement of the 1960s, and Kate, a rich snob who's so jaded she "finds uplifting to be boring."

"We're able to make it our own," Hantzis said.

The character list has been trimmed by two. The actors decided to nix two prostitutes that appeared in the original production.

More could be riding on the show than performing well for a Hernando audience.

Central has entered an annual statewide competition as part of the Florida Thespian Chapter. The school's performance is one of 45 plays that could be considered for a spot at the annual Florida State Thespian Festival in April. Winning schools are invited to perform their shows during the festival at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

But judges can't make it to all 45 shows, though, so there's no guarantee that Central will actually be in the running.

If any cast can make it, this one can, said Linda Bailey, the school's drama director and thespian sponsor.

"They can carry shows and this is a good vehicle for their talents," Bailey said. "I feel confident competing my actors against anybody in the state or even in the U.S."

The depth of Tomlin's talent became clear to the Central students when they realized how many lines made up their parts, much of them during monologues.

Tavolaro as Trudy has an especially large chunk of the script that Tomlin performed on her own, up on stage by herself. Tavolaro said she's getting used to "just straight talking to the audience."

"Now it just sort of flows," she said. "I get on autopilot."

The play is a chance for the actors to test their range.

Lyani Smalley is a 17-year-old senior who plays Edie, the most militant of the three feminist friends, and Chrissy, an upwardly mobile yuppie.

"She is a beast," Smalley says of Edie, then admits she was able to bring some of her real personality to Edie. "I'm pretty in-your-face."

The comedy weaves the characters together in a journey toward an ending that is surprisingly sincere and that Trudy calls "a goosebump experience," the students said.

"No matter how goofy the play is, in the end it's really heartfelt," said Lacy Jordan, an 18-year-old senior who plays Lyn, the third in the feminist trio, and the grandmotherly Marie.

Rounding out the cast are Jordan Koenig, a senior who plays the somber teenager Agnus Angst; and Dominick Logroi, a junior portraying Louis, the narrator, and two other characters, Ludd and Bob.

Tavolaro said performing well is the goal, but to hit the stage at Tampa's arts center "would mean the world to us."

Then she laughed and added, "Yes, the whole universe."

If you go

WHAT: Central High School's production of "The Search For Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe."

WHEN: 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6.

WHERE: Central's auditorium, 14075 Ken Austin Parkway, Brooksville.

ADMISSION: $4 adults, $2 for students, faculty and staff; Children younger than 12 admitted free.

CONTACT: Linda Bailey, 797-7020, Ext. 221.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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