ART + CULTURE vcreporter.com
On Stage by Emily Dodi
Last Train to Nibroc at Conejo Players Theatre
T
hese days, “the show must go on” has taken on a much deeper meaning. It no longer simply means overcoming a technical glitch or calming a bout of stage fright before the curtain goes up. During COVID times, it means having to find new ways to bring art to the people. Conejo Players Theatre (CPT) has been especially creative in doing so, first with producing outdoor musical revues and now by livestreaming a staged performance of Last Train to Nibroc (Jan. 22-24.) AD PROOF Arlene Hutton’s poignant and timely play revolves around a Client: TOCAP Ad Executive: Warren Barrett (805) 648-2244 young man and woman who Please check this proof over carefully and indicate all corrections clearly. You will have a “1st Proof”, “2nd Proof”, and “Final Proof”. If meet on a train. The year is we receive no proof after the 1st or 2nd Proofs, AD WILL RUN AS IS. If this proof meets your approval on the 1st proof, check off 1940, the world is in tumult “FINAL PROOF (APPROVED)” box, date and sign at the bottom. and two seemingly lost souls ISSUE: 1/14/21 NOTICE: PLEASE FAX THIS PROOF TO (805) 648-2245 ASAP connect, revealing truths about themselves they never expected. As director Elena Mills explains, it is a deeply moving and, at times, humorous look at human relationships, Emilyrose Morris and Jeff Lawless star as May kindness, understanding and and Raleigh in Last Train to Nibroc. misunderstanding. Photo by Elena Mills/Conejo Players Theatre In many ways, Last Train to CHECK LIST: Nibroc is a play for our times. Not completely zero-contact . . . Then I p was phone number correct p address is correct p expiration date is correct p spelling is correct just because it is an intimate look at saw that Conejo doing some issort a relationship forged during a pivotal of hybrid-type thing — it’s real-time time in history, but because its structure with another actor and there’s PLEASE NOTE:just noDEADLINE FOR AD CHANGES IS 12:00 NOON THE TUESDAY PRIOR TO THAT ISSUES RELEASE. is conducive to the moment. The two- audience and I’m that’s produced awesome by the production department of Times Media Group, is the copyrighted property of Times Media Group. Any Alllike, advertising person drama does not fit CPT’s pre- and a safe way to back in usebring othertheater than the placement of advertising in any of Times Media Group’s publications is prohibited without the express consent of pandemic tradition of mounting large- a unique way … andMedia I think that plus it’s any applicable fees. Times Group, p OK to run scale musical productions. COVID-19 just a really cool happy medium that Date: ______________________________ has inspired the theater to reimagine can only have This beenproof discovered during is to check for accuracy and is p OK to run what is possible — in short, how it can this time.” not intended to show quality of reproduction. with correction Signature: __________________________ turn obstacles into opportunities. Now Morris agrees, likening the experience is the perfect moment for Last Train to to doing a multi-cam sitcom, “where Nibroc, a play that Mills says she has there’s kind of an audience, but it’s been wanting to direct for a long time. kind of like doing a film.” “We think it’s so important that people “I read the play many years ago and I 1-21 Ventura Chamber of Comm 2.5x6.indd 1 1/15/21 can see this piece of art, especially now just fell in love with it.” Mills and the actors Emilyrose in these difficult times,” Mills adds. Morris and Jeff Lawless, as well as “We are trying not just to survive a diligent crew, have been working (I’m talking about Conejo Players) but according to COVID-19 protocols we’re trying to bring people something to bring the production to the stage. nice, something good, something that Zoom rehearsals were followed by they’re missing right now — which is onstage rehearsals (and multiple live theater. I understand that it is live COVID tests) in anticipation of the stream, but they can see that it’s our upcoming live performances. In every stage with live actors.” When the show goes on, you won’t aspect — sets, props, costumes and staging — Last Train to Nibroc is a want to miss it. “regular” production, except that the audience will be at home instead of in Last Train to Nibroc, streaming live Jan. 22-24. For schedule, tickets the theater. “When COVID hit, I felt deprived of and more information, visit www. performing as I know a lot of people conejoplayers.org. were,” Lawless says. “I was looking Watch an author talk back with around for things to do and there playwright Arlene Hutton at www. were so many Zoom shows where it’s facebook.com/conejoplayers/ January 21, 2021 —
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