Tales From Tent City

     Homelessness just isn't something you think about very often, generally speaking. But it's been on the forefront of the minds of those involved in the Rogers State Theater spring play, the world-premiere production of Brian James Polak's Tales From Tent City. It's an emotionally-charged show tracking a group of homeless teenagers, mostly runaways of one sort or another, and their struggle to survive in finding new hope and a new home, especially after meeting an ambitious photographer trying to jumpstart her career. What follows is a deceptively simple tale with many tonal shifts, so that maybe the best way to describe it would be to call it an occasionally-lighthearted drama. Sort of like Joss Whedon projects, in some ways. The roles of group dynamics are similar to the Firefly crew, anyway. But overall, the simile we've been using to describe it as like The Breakfast Club taking place on the streets.

This poster really sums up the essence of the play very well. It was designed by the Graphic Design department on campus. 

Also designed by the Graphic Design department, this one harnesses the gritty nature of our world. 

Set once it was was mostly completed.

David and Wes taking a break from finishing getting the set ready.  Photo by Andrew Nichols.

Almost finished with rehearsals; Crick is very displeased here. Photo by Andrew Nichols.

     So... who are the main players, then? Jennifer the photographer is portrayed by Keirstine Weaver, a graphic design freshman from Claremore. Of the homeless community she encounters, Claremore communications senior Kessiah Neff plays Beatrix, who the script describes as "the one who takes care of Lily," serving as sort of the mother of the group. Lily, played by Claremore communications freshman Autumn Erickson, is an overtly optimistic pregnant fifteen-year-old with a preference for vampire fiction. Pryor resident Jamie Hazen plays Casper, who fills the role of thoughtful older brother/eccentric favorite uncle, whose advice and ideas often conflict with those of Crick's. Crick is played by Wesley Coburn, a senior English major from Beggs. Keeping an eye on everyone is Tonic, played by Claremore communications senior Zach Amon. Tonic plays guitar, and serves as a kind of balance for the community's internal politics.

Teaser posters like this were posted around campus and the surrounding area. Also created by the Graphic Design department, this photoshoot involved them sharing pizza with the cast. That was cool. Photo by David Blakely.

Andrew and Wes created most of the signs that adorn Casper's house; Wes designed this one with the idea that one of the girls decided it needed a more-homey feel. So Casper posted this on his front door.

This group hug was one of the first scenes we rehearsed. Photo by David Blakely

This puppy, named Gruber, played Crick's dog Ranger for several rehearsals, quickly becoming the cast mascot. He belongs to Zach and Charli. 

Final read-through tuneup. Pretty sure Keirstine took this photo.

     Crew members were Dr. David Blakely as director, with Jay community counseling junior Charli Stoots as stage manager, while Makayla Arnett is assistant stage manager, Renee Cox was in charge of makeup, and Andrew Nichols did pretty much everything behind the scenes, including running lights and taking publicity photos. Dr. Mary Mackie provided dressing-room snacks.

Tonic (Zach Amon) plays his guitar. Photo by Andrew Nichols.

      “I play Tonic, who has been at the tent city that they’re at the longest, he has a stutter, and he plays guitar, but he can SING," Amon stated, noting that much research was necessary to get Tonic's speech impediment done accurately. 
     "He watches everything, kind of like keeps his eye on everyone. He won’t always try to fit in with what everyone’s trying to do, but he listens." He is older than everyone else, being somewhere in his early twenties. Of his true family, nothing is known, except a sister is mentioned in addition to a foster-system background. 

Casper (Jamie Hazen) works on a new sign. Photo by Andrew Nichols.

     "Casper is, um....a confused one, actually," Hazen said. "He’s baffled by the fact that he’s been through so many foster homes, and have had so many parents that have said they loved him, but showed it in a way that he wasn’t used to. And so I think that’s the reason he runs away in the first place. And so Casper is just kind of looking for his own place in the world where he can feel safe.
     "According to Jennifer, he’s like the lovable uncle; he’s the jokester, he likes to keep people laughing so that they can’t see the pain that he hides inside. And that’s just his way of keeping himself in check, along with helping others to brighten their days so they don’t feel down, like he does.

     "This play is about a whitewashed fantasy, that’s based on reality, it’s just been so rewritten and sanitized so much that nobody knows exactly what it’s about until – a little farther in. So…you get to see this in-depth buildup of all these characters and then their crash with reality in this fantasy world that’s been created around them. 

     “My character’s name is Beatrix, I don’t have a last name, just Beatrix. Like Madonna," Neff laughs before turning serious, explaining how relatable she found the role to be. "She tries to be very caring, but at the same time she knows how the real world is, and she doesn’t want to wake up and see the real world. 
     "She absolutely cares for Lily, almost like a mother-daughter situation. Tonic – I don’t really know what her relationship is with Tonic; I mean, she kinda jokes with him, but not too much cause he can’t talk a lot." She cares a great deal about both Casper and Crick, though this is manifested in different ways. Her relationship with Jennifer is especially antagonistic, due to the invasion into the makeshift family's privacy and the threat that it could get ripped apart. 

Lily (Autumn Erickson) counts change. Photo by Andrew Nichols.

     Lily is kind of innocent and naive in some ways, Erickson says. "Well, she definitely gives the group someone to look after! She's one who cares about how everyone else feels, and so even if she can't give much to the group money- or work-wise, she can be supportive emotionally." Most of the comedy in the script comes from her character. 

     Jennifer is somewhere in her late twenties, and hasn't quite found her place in the world just yet. She's lonesome, and trying to scratch out a meaning as best she can through her work with her camera. 

Crick (Wesley Coburn) is ignoring Tonic and Jennifer (Keirstine Weaver). Photo by Andrew Nichols.

     Crick is immensely suspicious, in addition to being bitter, depressed and angry at the world. He loves dogs and scrapes out a living as a junk dealer focusing on used books whenever possible, resorting to thievery when it isn't. He struggles against institutions, seeing their potential for failure, but at the same time, he is very loyal to those he accepts as close friends. And like Firefly's Mal Reynolds, he serves as the father/protector of the group, who would be mortified if it were known that he so clearly cares about everyone. 

     Like Casper, this script sometimes delivers the stinging truth of life wrapped in the guise of a joke or fiction. It's very much a battle of idealism vs. realism and the varying colors of muddy grayness between truth and fiction, while also serving as a coming-of-age story for some characters and a coming-unhinged story for others. There is some harsh language, but it is absolutely vital in portraying the all-too-raw reality that these characters face in their daily world, and it is necessary for the plot, too, for reasons which cannot be mentioned due to their spoiler-ish nature. 
     " I honestly hope that they[the audience] understand the stories of others just a little bit more, because we live in a very, um, wealthy society, compared to other areas of the world that go through a lot more tougher times that we do, and so it just gives a little glimpse of what some people actually go through," Erickson said. 
     "I would say this play is about understanding homelessness, or, understanding your lack of understanding of homelessness," Neff said. "I hope after seeing this, they kinda understand more than 'Hey, it’s those homeless people, like, I feel so bad for them.' Well, ya can feel bad for them all you want, but that’s not gonna help them any, not gonna do anything." 
     "I really just hope it breaks ‘em. I want them to weep," Amon said. "No, I really hope they take away the idea that this is a real issue that we face here, and it’s an issue that should be addressed and should be looked at and changed, and I’m really hoping that people will take away from the show that lesson, that hey, there are people out there who need help, and that they will help those people. It’s a very emotionally-driven show."

     With an RSU ID, admission is $3. Adult tickets are $12 and senior tickets are $7. Proceeds help keep productions like this running; and also go towards student participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival regional competition. Curtain time is at 7:07 p.m. at the Will Rogers Auditorium on campus in Claremore, from Thursday, April 7 to Saturday, April 9; and then again from Thursday, April 14 to Saturday, April 16. Tickets are available by calling the RSU box office at 918-343-6882, or they may also be ordered online. (See www.RSU.edu for details on that.) A canned food drive will be held on April 14; tickets will be free with a donation of canned goods for the area homeless.