On December 19, 2012, the Stern College Dramatics Society (SCDS) performed The Government Inspector, a satirical play written by Nikolai Gogol, on a stage in Koch Auditorium. The comedy, taking place in 1830s Russia, was anything but the expected Stern show. The actors were, as usual, all female. However, this time they were not acting in the the Schottenstein Cultural Center, which had previously been their home base. Despite their new location’s inevitable limitations, the talent of the actors left the audience laughing far after the last scene had ended.
At first, the show seemed a bit makeshift with a minimal set and overdramatic makeup, but as soon as the actors felt comfortable in their roles, which took only a few minutes on opening night, they were able to make the entire room laugh. Entertaining YU students with humor from Russian culture is not an easy feat, but the cast succeeded exceptionally.
Directed by Reuven Russell, the play came alive after only five weeks of rehearsal. Under normal circumstances, five weeks is roughly how long it takes to learn your lines and block the staging of an entire show. And, it must be noted, SCDS lacked a stage and a theater during these five weeks.
Given their situation, it becomes readily apparent that these women were not just making a show—they were taking a stand with what they were best equipped: their performance.
When Khlestekov took the stage, the audience kept murmuring, “Who is she?!” I found myself rummaging through the playbill to decipher who this blond bobbed and mustached Stern girl was. It was Daniella Penn, who debuted in her first show as a first year on campus student. Her mannerisms, especially her sheepish hand gestures and the way she boyishly flipped her hair throughout the show, and her ability to be present without acting like she was acting amazed the audience. Additionally, Grusha, the maid played by Chaya Weissman pleasantly surprised everyone with her wits and exaggerated stance. Each word she uttered and every shrug she managed literally made everyone laugh out loud.
The performance was going strong, especially with the support of the audience.
In fact, one of the leads, the Mayor, played by Hannah Dreyfus (SCW ‘14) said that she was “overwhelmed with both the talent and the turnout”—one of the largest turnouts in SCDS history!
More than three hundred people filled the audience in Koch Auditorium, and they didn’t just come—they participated and supported the performance. Dreyfus notes that the show was exceptional, and it was the result of the cast and crew. “Cast members were willing to practice in any number of classrooms while waiting for the stage to be ready…” It was available for use only days before the show opened. She continues, “everyone was willing to ensure that a less-than-ideal setting would not make for a less-than-ideal show.” Dreyfus ensures YU that SCDS is here to stay. She says, “the dramatic talent within our student body demands a stage, no matter how big and no matter where.”
As Evan Schwarzbaum, President of Yeshiva College Dramatics Society reiterates, “The success of this production, which was organized in short time, on a short budget, and without a formal theater arrangement is a testament to the skill, dedication, and resiliency of the women in the Stern College Dramatics Society.”