'All in the Timing': Words, words, words, laughs, laughs, laughs
Words, words, words. We say and hear them, but hardly do we think about just how much they affect every moment of our lives. Interboro High School explored what exactly it means to be extraordinarily human in the play, All in the Timing.
Words, words, words. We say and hear them, but hardly do we think about just how much they affect every moment of our lives. Interboro High School explored what exactly it means to be extraordinarily human in the play, All in the Timing.
Composed of six comedies, All in the Timing was written by the playwright David Ives, and first premiered Off-Broadway in 1993. The acts are connected by the underlying theme of communication and its impact on human relationships.
Interboro High School pulled off the rendition with ease and composure. The acts were punctuated with sharp humor and surprising coherence, and the play moved in a way that never felt confusing or hasty. Supported with a minimalistic set and interactive stage, the actors were able to shine through with their words and movements.
Each actor played their character in a surprisingly natural manner, making them relatable to a large spectrum of people. Laughter filled the theater as one of the acts, "The Philadelphia," talked of the city and Mark (Jeff Finley) ranted about its inability to get anything done. The actors held an intimacy with the audience that never left the show.
The last act, a humorous and seemingly nonsensical look at how a few lines can transform music and the idea of forgotten love, had the only musical ensemble of the play. They brought "Philip Glass and a Loaf of Bread" alive with a few words and movements, going from silly to philosophical in seconds.
A large part of the play was the use of light and sound. In one the acts, "English Made Simple," light plays the role of determining what the characters are thinking, shifting swiftly between the two leads, and adding an air of mock drama seen in theatrical operas.The sound was also quite important, as the bell was a recurring instrument and is never once too harsh. While there were some unintelligible lines in a few of the acts, the actors' facial expressions and movements said what the words couldn't.
All in the Timing is a show with multiple shows within, and Interboro High School never failed to bring character to each of them. With a cast that never stopped interacting with its audience and filled the theater with guffaws, it goes to show that though words are a gift to humanity, laughter is truly priceless.