EULOGIES; Forever in Our Memories By Aimee Teplitskiy

 

Aimee Teplitskiy

    Earlier this year, my friend’s mother died. Needless to say, it was absolutely devastating. I remember being in a state of complete shock when I heard that the healthy, happy woman, whom I had seen just a couple of weeks ago, had just died. For my friend, it was understandably even worse. I remember going with another girl to visit her before the funeral. We did not know what to say in such a situation, so we did our best to just carry some light conversation. Though she seemed to appreciate our efforts, my friend was very withdrawn and distracted. When she did speak, she would talk about her mother and how she was so angry with herself for crying the last time her mother saw her. I eventually asked her about a wooden toy she had on her shelf as an attempt to keep her engaged and distracted, and her demeanor changed completely. She told us it was a toy her mother had since she was a child, and then began to talk about all the happy memories she had with her mother. After talking about all the good times they had, my friend became much happier than I had seen her in a while. After leaving her house, I could not stop thinking about how despite all our efforts to cheer her up, the only thing that helped my friend was thinking about her mother.

The play Eulogies, by Amanda Feliciano, addresses how the living cope with the loss of loved ones. It deals with the way in which the memories we have of the dead allow us to be happy in the face of our loss. One thing I found particularly interesting about this play was the question it poses: “How can the dead help the living?”

At first I considered the possibility that perhaps this was a “trick question,” that the whole idea was that the dead cannot help the living. But after much consideration, I came to a different conclusion. The dead help the living by having experienced as much as they could throughout their lifetime. Abraham Lincoln once said that “in the end, it is not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years.” My friend’s mother lived an unjustly short life, but it was a life that was full of happiness and experiences. She is one of the only people whom I can honestly say lived her life to the fullest, and that is why remembering all the wonderful experiences in her life was the only thing that could make my friend happy in her time of mourning.

Eulogies expresses the same idea that what we do in life will later bring comfort to our loved ones. Collin Forbes, a young man who died an untimely death, listens to his loved ones speak at his funeral, and through their speeches begins to understand that though he cannot help them through their grief physically, the memories he made with them will bring them comfort and joy.

This play had a way of really connecting with me and my personal experiences, and allowed me to view my past experiences in a completely new light. It gave me a deeper understanding of the significance of our relationships with others, as well as a greater appreciation for all the beautiful, small moments I share with the people around me.

I think it is important to recognize just how significant the memories we make with people are, no matter how small the memories are. Whether it be a crazy night at college, or a friendship forged in third grade, these memories are the deepest bond you have with the people around you. This is a bond that will never be broken, and will continue to spark love, hope, and happiness in you and your loved ones forever.

Eulogies will be performing in the Strawberry One-Act Festival on July 16 (Saturday) at 3pm, July 18 (Monday) at 9pm, and July 25 (Monday) at 9pm, at the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46^th Street, NYC

EULOGIES by Amanda Feliciano

What happens at a funeral, stays at a funeral.

Saturday, July 16th at 3pm

Monday, July 18th at 9pm & Monday, July 25th at 9pm
For tickets go to https://www.therianttheatre.com/item.php?id=266

THE COMMUTERS: Mind Your Manners, By Aimee Teplitskiy

Aimee Teplitskiy

It is rush hour on a Tuesday, and I am on the subway trying to get home. There is a group of teenagers at the end of the car singing – very badly – at the top of their lungs. How rude is that? Not only are they seriously annoying everyone around them, but they are completely misrepresenting the teenage generation. I promise, most of us are not that obnoxious.

        I am sure that I am not the only one with stories of rowdy teenagers on the MTA, or someone spreading their legs ridiculously wide on the seat, leaving no room for anybody else to sit. I am also sure that many of us have been those rude, audacious

people. I know for a fact I have been excessively loud on the subway before, or accidentally pushed someone when trying to get on or off the train. Everybody has a story to tell about people being rude on public transportation.

When we encounter these rude people, we very often want to make them aware of just how disruptive or aggravating they are being. The only issue is, how? How can we inform people that they are being rude without seeming rude ourselves? So we refrain from saying anything and seethe in silence. 

But what if there was a way to make people more aware of their presence, and the presence of others on public transportation? The Commuters is a musical, by Kit Goldstein Grant, Gil Varod, and Caleb Damschroder, that speaks to the lack of awareness and consideration of people on the MTA. In the musical, those who transgress the rules of the MTA are punished by standing in line forever, until someone comes along to take their place. It addresses the prevalent issue of ignorance in our society in a comedic and entertaining way. The play also brings to light the fact that very often, people are not aware that what they are doing is rude or disruptive, or do not understand the extent to which they are bothering other people.

In the heat of the moment we may not notice that we shoved someone while rushing to catch our train, or that we are speaking too loudly on the phone. But this also applies to the world outside the MTA. Most of us at some time or another, made a joke or a comment to someone and in doing so, unintentionally hurt their feelings. Though we may not understand that we hurt the person at the time, when reflecting back upon the conversation it often seems very obvious that the comment or joke was hurtful. It seems to me that being a society that is always moving at super speed is taking its toll on us. We are often so swept up in the moment, or in such a rush to get somewhere, that we do not think about how others will be affected by our actions. So how can we become more aware of our effect on the people around us?

 For starters, we can try and take a second before we act or say something. A second is all it takes to realize that what we are about to say or do might be harmful to others. We should try and put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. How would you feel if you got

unceremoniously pushed on your way home after a long day at work? And if a situation should arise in which we realize that we hurt or annoyed someone, it can be easily repaired by saying sorry. Showing that you recognize your mistake and want to make things better is a great step in making the affected person feel better.

The Commuters delves into the effect of one person’s ignorance on others. Seeing this play really opens up your mind to the thought that we should be more mindful of what we say or do not only when it comes to public transportation, but when it comes to every day human interaction as well. So make space on the seat, use your inside voice on the train, and most of all “pay heed to the cautionary tale of the commuters.”

The Commuters will be performing in the Strawberry One-Act Festival on July 15 (Friday) at 7pm, July 18 (Monday) at 7pm, and July 20 (Wednesday) at 7pm, at the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46^th Street, NYC

THE COMMUTERS, or A CAUTIONARY TALE OF THE PORT AUTHORITY

A musical by Gil Varod, Caleb Damschroder and Kit Goldstein Grant

When a recently-sacked MTA executive wanders the Port Authority Bus Terminal after midnight, the “Commuters” sculpture comes alive to call him on his subway-related sins. The piece was read to uproarious laughter at Lincoln Center’s “Across A Crowded Room” festival.

Friday, July 15th at 7pm

Monday, July 18th at 7pm

Wednesday, July 20th at 7pm

For tickets go to https://www.therianttheatre.com/item.php?id=258

At the Theatre at St. Clement’s, 423 West 46^th Street, NYC
The Riant Theatre’s Strawberry One-Act Festival

A VIEW FROM THE BACK: I Have a Secret..., The Beauty of the Whisper App by Aimee Teplitskiy

   

By Aimee Teplitskiy

  Throughout the duration of our lives, we are constantly dependent on the company and the assistance of others. As children, we depend on our parents for clothing, food, shelter, and education. As we enter our adult life the dynamic shifts, and we need to stop leaning on our parents for constant support. Instead, we lean on our friends. We live with roommates, go on vacations with our friends, and begin to develop relationships. As grown adults, we hopefully marry and start a family. We rely on our spouse for company, and any support we may need throughout the rest of our lives. Essentially, in every phase of our lives, we surround ourselves with people we can turn to for support.

        The play A View From the Back, by Yi Shi, really exposes how dependent we are on others be they someone we love, or a complete stranger. This play reflects on the different ways that we rely on others, and the different ways that we can be there for and support others. 

        Supporting someone can be interpreted in the literal sense:

Shi, Yi

helping someone sustain themselves by providing them with food, clothing, shelter, and anything else they would need to survive. It can also be something like providing services for someone, like a waiter or a taxi driver. To me, the most significant form of support is emotional support. Every single one of us knows what it is like to have an awful day, or a secret that you really want to share, but know you cannot. I know that when I have those days, the thing I need the most is company. I need to share my thoughts and feelings with someone and have them sympathize without any judgments.

        But sometimes, I am not completely comfortable sharing with my friends or family. Sometimes I am worried they might judge or be condescending of me, and I know I am not the only one that feels this way. There are so many people out in the world who need to confide their feelings and secrets in someone - so they go to the Whisper app. The Whisper app is an app where people anonymously upload the things they need to share most with someone, but are not comfortable sharing with the close people in their life. People can comment on the things others post, showing sympathy or suggesting ways to improve a situation. 

        Some of the confessions I find on Whisper are truly touching. They make me really empathize and connect with the person that wrote them. Others are hilarious and embarrassing stories that make me laugh. And of course, there are those that make me angry or uncomfortable because of their language or their content, but it is nonetheless fascinating to see how many secrets people have, and how comfortable they are with putting them out on the internet. 

        Even for people who do not feel comfortable posting their secrets online, Whisper really helps make you feel like you are not alone. Though I myself have never posted on Whisper, I have come across countless posts that I really related to. It amazes me how two people at entirely different points in their lives, and in two entirely different locations in the world, can be experiencing the same things as one another. But though Whisper is a great way to simply share how you are feeling and find others that feel the same way as you do, receiving support from random strangers is not as fullfilling and meaningful as receiving support from the people who love you.

        It is important to keep in mind that the people behind the screen do not know you. They do not care for you and your well-being the same way your loved ones do. Even though the internet is a great place to find someone who can relate to our problems, and it is helpful to know that we are not alone in our struggle, the only way to really help ourselves is too confide in those closest to us. Though they may not completely understand what we are going through, they will try their hardest and do everything in their power to make us feel better in a way that nobody else can. 

        A View From the Back recognizes this human need for sympathy and support from strangers, and shows how imperative it is for us to try and be there for others. It demonstrates how we never really know what is going on in the lives of the people around us, and that we need to be sympathetic towards the problems of others because pain is relative. Yi Shi uses a seemingly every day and mundane aspect of life, like a taxi driver, to reflect one of the most fundamental pieces of human interaction.

        Sharing personal thoughts is easy when it is done anonymously through the internet. It is easy to connect with a post on a Whisper page, or to get sympathetic comments on posts of your own. But how does this anonymous sharing of information help us learn to deal with the problems we face? If we cannot confront the people closest to us about our problems, we are not ready to deal with these problems ourselves. I can only hope that sites on the internet like Whisper can give us the courage and the drive to confront our issues and allow our loved ones to help us through the hardships of life.

        What are some ways that we can become more comfortable opening up to our loved ones? What are some of your experiences with opening up to friends and family?

Let us know below!!!

        A View From the Back will be playing in the
Strawberry One-Act Festival on
July 16 (Saturday) at 5pm,
July 17 (Sunday) at 3pm,
July 20 (Wednesday) at 9pm. 

The performance will take place at the Theatre at St. Clement’s at 423 West 46^th Street, NYC, between 9^th and 10^th avenue. Tickets can be purchased online at www.therianttheatre.com.

        A VIEW FROM THE BACK by Yi Shi

Who contemplates the questions of love and death in a taxi? A mosquito.

Saturday, July 16th at 5pm, Sunday, July 17th at 3pm &
Wednesday, July 20th at 9pm

For tickets go to https://www.therianttheatre.com/item.php?id=283

PSYCHIC CAFE: Is The Future Written in Your Cards? By Aimee Teplitskiy

By Aimee Teplitskiy

Fortune cookies, horoscopes, Magic 8-balls, palm readings, tarot cards; we all immerse ourselves in a culture, in a society that is always looking to the future. We want to know what will happen tomorrow, or in a few weeks, or in ten years, and in the scramble for the future we often forget to live in the present.

        The play The Psychic Café, by Anthony Fusco, delves into the idea that perhaps we let fortune telling, and our obsession with always moving forward, dictate how we live our lives. The protagonist, Anthony Fontana, lives his life strictly by his tarot cards. If it is in the cards, it must be so. He allows psychic readings to dictate his every decision, and in doing so, he renders himself blind to the things going on around him.

        But Anthony is not alone in making this mistake. In fact, finding a balance between this cultural aspect of our society and the reality of the world around us is a struggle we all face. Take Nancy Reagan for example.  The former First Lady is known to have used an astrologer as a consult in very significant affairs during her husband’s presidency including the timing of the Presidential debates, military tactics, as well the date of his cancer treatment. Considering the fact that Nancy Reagan had so much pull in the White House, this could arguably be an inappropriate decision on her part. Should she really have allowed astrology to dictate the decisions that were made by the White House?

        Even looking beyond literal psychic readings, we face the struggle of future versus present in the scientific field as well. In the advanced, technological age we live in today scientists are constantly striving to uncover what the future holds, and in doing so, to prevent diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. Gene mapping, the process of identifying the genes present in peoples’ DNA, is becoming a growing field of interest in the medical world. People want to be able to know the diseases that are embedded in their DNA, and that have a potential of being triggered in the future. In theory, gene mapping would help prevent the development of many hereditary diseases, and would also give scientists the ability to learn more about getting rid of these diseases altogether. However, if gene mapping is made more accessible, we need to consider the question of how will this affect the way we live in the present?

       If I got my genes mapped and found out that I have a chance of getting a disease, I could either go on living my life as I normally would, or I could structure the rest of my life around this slim chance that I might get this disease. I would have to decide if it is worth it to alter my life choices, so that I might evade triggering that disease.

        This is a concern that many different professionals have expressed on the topic of gene mapping. We need to consider how gene mapping results might affect patients’ mentalities, and if this process should be made accessible to the public in the face of these risks. But at the same time, how can we deny people the right to know what potentially lies in their future?

        I think that The Psychic Café has a very in depth way of portraying how much we let fear and anticipation of the future shape our life choices. I think too often we worry about how what we do will affect us later on, and do not stop to consider how much we are missing out on when always airing on the side of caution. We need to understand the importance of finding the balance between thinking ahead, and still enjoying the present moment. And the next time you sit down for a tarot card reading ask yourself: How much should we let the future dictate what we do in the present?

Let us know what you think below!!

The Psychic Café will be playing in the Strawberry One-Act Festival on July 14 (Thursday) at 9PM, July 16 (Saturday) at 5PM, July 17 (Sunday) at 3PM. The performance will take place at the Theatre at St. Clement’s at 423 West 46^th Street, NYC, between 9^th and 10^th avenue. Tickets can be purchased online at www.therianttheatre.com.

PSYCHIC CAFÉ by Anthony Fusco

A flamboyant NYC psychic hires an assistant to draw in new business. The new guy has no idea what he’s in for until he meets the quirky clients who reveal the most bizarre, over-the-top secrets.

Thursday, July 14th at 9pm

Saturday, July 16th at 5pm

Sunday, July 17th at 3pm

For tickets go to https://www.therianttheatre.com/item.php?id=252