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Chocolate Cake; a slice of life
Laura Mastrosimone
Staff Writer
The two-person
san Saunders (Dehlia) and Shannon Wandell
’ (Annmarie), both newcomers to the Drew
stage.
While on the surface the play revolves
around eating disorders, the themes raised
by this production go much deeper. It ex-
plores the reasons behind problems with
food; the sense of loneliness, inadequacy,
and the need to fill a void.
Due to Gallagher’s ingenuity, the audi-
ence is not spoon fed conclusions about the
characters. perceive the emotional
struggles of Annmarie and Dehlia through
facial expressions, vocal inflection, and
unsaid cravings and anxieties.
The action begins as the characters sit in
their rooms of a small-town hotel. They
have gathered for a conference on women’s
careers. Annmarie sits in her bed watching
TV in robe and slippers, making her “small-
town girl” characteristics instantly obvious
when juxtaposed against Dehlia with her
exercise bike, leather boots, and mink coat.
In the background, commercials for nu-
merous diet plans intermittently contrast
against ads for rich, enticing foods. Al-
though the characters hail from two differ-
ent worlds, the use of commercials enables
the audience to see how they unite in the
struggle against society’s perceptions of
weight and eating behavior.
Eventually, Dehlia decides to pay a visit
to Annmarie, and the two end up having an
intimate conversation. Through this inter-
change, the audience discovers both women
suffer from low self-esteem. They feel
stagnant in their lives and marriages. Their
worlds may be different, but they share a
common bond when it comes to food. Both
women use food to fill the emotional void in
their lives. As Dehlia says, “Food has al-
ways been my drug . . . itis the only thing I
Shannon Wandelland Susan Saunders
by Keith Bronsdon
conclusion, Annmarie makes a pivotal choice
about where her life is headed.
Chocolate Cake brings to its audience a
sense of closeness, The play’s interesting
mix of humor and serious issues draw the
spectator in. As Dehlia and Annmarie reveal
their need for intimacy and understanding
from one another, audience members feel
more like friends to these women, rather
than observers. Both actresses give impres-
sive performances, as they must project both
the outer aspects of their characters as well
as the emotional turmoil that lies within.
The themes of this play do not associate
solely with food addiction; they present a
clear picture of the pressure society places
upon people, particularly women, to live up
toa certain standard. As Timperman stated,
“Everyone has an eating disorder in some
degree,” due to society's strict rules as to
what is physically acceptable.
Top Ten Organs:
10. Pyloric caecum
9. Wurlitzer
8. Pancreas
7. The one in the Sistine Chapel
6. Portland
5. Really huge pumpkins:
4. Ronald Reagan’s colon
3. Where burps come from
2. Kean’s olfactory bulbs
1. The brain of Don Ameche
: ~Join the Acorn!
Call x3451 for details.
by The Acorn Staff
swap edible stories and deep, dark secrets. P
=
hoto
This production brings home the impor-
tance of a positive self-image; emotional
stability can only be attained when an indi-
vidual learns to accept and love the person
whothey happen tobe. Yet, as demonstrated
in this play, this is one of the hardest lessons
in life to learn.
Chocolate Cake has something that ev-
eryone can relate to. We all battle with food
at some point; we all struggle to achieve an
unattainable standard, and we all strive to
gain self-acceptance.
Not only worthwhile because it’s enter-.
taining, Chocolate Cake teaches us all a
little something about ourselves.
WMNJ
88.9 FM
These are the most requested bands
on Drew's student operated radio
station. Neato, ain’t it?
1. R.E.M.
2. Billy Joel
3. Dramarama
4. Nirvana
5. Living Colour
6. Crash Test
Dummies
7: Red Hot Chili
Peppers
8. Fishbone
9. Siouxsie & the
Banshees
10. Replacements
Top Ten is determined on a one
vote per band per show basis influ-
enced by your requests. Call WMNJ
at x5021 to make requests.
Now at Headquarters 10 AMC:
11
Distractions
Galleries
Art Show: “The Jewels in the
Lotus: Art and Culture of Tibet.”
12:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Korn Gallery
Through Nov. 9
Theatre
The Respectful Prostitute
by Jean-Paul Sartre
directed by Julio Irizarry
Chocolate Cake
by Mary Galagher
directed by Elizabeth Timperman
Commons Theatre
Nov. 1-2, 8 p.m.
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U.C. 107 Nov. 2-3, 6 & 8 p.m.
Little Man Tate
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Curly Sue
People Under The Stairs
- The Fisher King
Year of the Gun
Frankie and Johnny
The Butcher’ s Wife
Ricochet
Call (201) 292-0606 for times
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The Other End
Thurs. 8 p.m.- 1 a.m.
Rapid Transit (with Andy Durkin)
Neil McLellan & Matt Mueller:
Acoustic set.
Fri. 9 p.m.-2 am.
Sonido with Nick Sheuble:
Afro-Cuban jazz
Sat. 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Three bands:
Crack Babies
Shrink Trip
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Sun. 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
Women’s Concerns Cabaret
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