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Show Friday, April 23, 2010 Page 5 A&EDI'VerSiCIIISr: Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Student-produced play debuts at Caine Lyric By NOELLE JOHANSEN staff writer Borrowing its namesake from an existing sign on a golf course in Browning, Texas, "Do Not Hit Golf Balls Into Mexico" is the Fusion Theatre Project's second and latest original production. The Fusion Theatre Project began in 2005 with its first play, "Scope", which discussed the war in Iraq. An experimental theater company through the university, the project's mission is to channel prominent social issues through avante-garde theater. "We focus on issues that heavily affect American society or that American society in turn affects," playwright and project founder Shawn Fisher said. However, chosen topics are not artfully disguised political platforms, but rather explorations of various topics that tend to be viewed from a single perspective. "We do it very much from an artistic standpoint. We in no way are trying to write something with a message or with a political tilt," Fisher said. "Do Not Hit Golf Balls Into Mexico" ventures into the lives of a variety of characters after the discovery in the Sonoran desert of human bones believed to belong to Mexican migrants. The plot centers on a bus driver by the name of Calvin Wesley and his relationship with his daughter and grandson, while also revealing other unexpectedly interwoven relationships. The story travels laterally through time between the present and five years before the discovery of the remains, involving characters directly connected to the discovery as well as their more distantly connected counterparts. Common thematic progression provides an anchor for the discordant structure. "It has been one of the most exhausting and rewarding roles that I have ever done," said John Belliston, a senior in theater who plays Calvin. "The character is this bag of pieces that has to keep going because there is no other choice. He's not terribly sensitive. He feels things really intensely, but he doesn't know how to express them. This play is kind of where he hits the absolute final wall, where he can't go any farther." Fisher decided on the topic of the play due to its overall recent prominence in the news, his idea alone taking root several years ago. Significant work on the production began two years ago, and last spring a company was assembled. In early preparation of "Do Not Hit Golf Balls Into Mexico," six members of the Fusion Theatre Project Company, including Fisher and Belliston, took a trip last August through Arizona to the border. There they interviewed a wide variety of subjects in an effort to establish a richer understanding of the United States and Mexico border issue. "We interviewed Mexican migrants, border patrol, police, clergy, church members, non-governmental, nonprofit organization members. We would literally walk up to people on the street and start interviewing them," Fisher said. Through this intensive, first-hand research, characters were cultivated and the script began to form. The script was an ongoing collaboration over several months and was completed as an early draft in February of this year. Changes were made throughout rehearsal to fine-tune moments into conveying the most meaning to audiences. This semester, a class was held for the Fusion Theatre Project in which students meticulously developed the final original work. "The way the script came about is so different," said director Adrienne Moore, associate professor of theater. "(Fisher) wrote some of these roles with specific actors in mind, and when the actors are playing these roles, they know where some of the characters came from. When the actors inhabit these characters, they really recognize the origins of these characters." Though an overall drama, the production contains a fair share of what Moore refers to as "quirky humor." She also addressed the recommendation of mature audiences only. "There's no sex and there's no violence. It has what we call 'situation appropriate language,"' Moore said. Fisher has taken an individual, humanistic approach on a topic rampant with over-simplification and generalizations. "This particular topic is actually about people: It's about their lives, it's about life and death, it's about a better life," Fisher said. "It deals with real people rather than political talking points. Moore feels that such an approach will succeed in captivating a diverse crowd. "If you live in Utah, you can't be uninterested in issues to do with immigration. It's a huge part of the lives of people who live here. I think that it's something of which everybody ACTORS PERFORM IN Do Not Hit Golf Balls Into Mexico at the Caine Lyric Theatre. Students traveled to Arizona and conducted interviews while developing the play. CARL WILSON photo has some second-hand experience or anecdotal information. It's general, pertinent and topical enough that it's going to be interesting to a wide range of people," Moore said. "Do Not Hit Golf Balls Into Mexico" runs April 22-24 and April 29-May 1 at the Caine Lyric Theatre. The production is $13 reserved seating or free for USU students with valid ID. Tickets are available through the CSA Box Office. — noelle.johansen@aggiemaiLusu.edu Walking with a purpose at Relay USU's Linton plays By NATALIE CURTIS staff writer There are two things Relay for Life participants have in common: They have been affected by cancer and they want to do something about it. Virginia Sites, freshman in theater education, said everyone is impacted by cancer, even if it is indirectly. "There is always someone you know who has been affected," she said. Dusty Petersen, president of Colleges Against Cancer, said, "If you haven't seen cancer yet, you are going to. You may not be affected directly, but someone close to you will be — statistically, it is true." The freshman in premedical biology said his mom was diagnosed with stage-four lymphatic cancer, also known as Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, when he was a high school freshman. She entered remission after six months of intense chemotherapy, he said, and she is now living as a four-year survivor. "She has been a living miracle to my family. It was after she was diagnosed and entered remission that I gained a passion to join the fight against cancer," he said. His passion led him to support cancer awareness and get involved in programs to fight back, he said, which is why he joined Colleges Against Cancer, a nationwide organization dedicated to eliminating cancer and implementing the programs of the American Cancer Society. One of these programs is Relay For Life, he said, and although this is his first year participating, it has already left an impact on him. "I have learned that if I have the will, desire and passion to fight for something I care about, I can do anything," he said. "This year's Relay For Life will definitely be one to remember because I have an outstanding committee who also shares my passion." Relay For Life starts at 6 p.m. Friday, April 23, and ends Saturday morning. People are welcome to come and walk at any time and participate in all the activities. The night will include a variety of entertainment with games, food, walking and lots of activities. Petersen said he hopes people will attend Relay to celebrate, to remember and to fight back. The event will focus on celebrating the lives of survivors, remembering those who have passed on and fighting back to raise money for cancer research. One committee member, the Team Retention and Recruitment Assistant Virginia Sites, said her dad was diagnosed with cancer when she was in seventh grade. She said he was given three months to live. "It was the biggest thing that has ever happened to me," she said. "They told him there was no way he was going to live, and they didn't have any hope for him." His whole bladder was a tumor, she said, and it was spreading into his lungs. He went to the hospital, where the doctors experimented with a new program that had never been tried on anyone before, she said. Four months later, she said, he was declared cancer free. It is very common for bladder cancer to come back within a year, she said, but this past March, he celebrated six years free of cancer. The impact of her father's battle with cancer gave her a reason to participate in Relay for Life, she said, although she had never heard of it before she came to USU. "I really wish that I had known about it," she said. "I wish my family had known, too, because Relay for Life does so much for people who need help." Sites said this is her first year participating in Relay for Life and her friends and family are joining the cause, as well. "My dad is trying to come up for the survivor walk," she said, and my roommates and family have all been happy to donate." Donations and fundraising are an important part of Relay for Life. Petersen said each team is expected to raise $1,000, which is about $100 per team member. The USU Relay for Life committee has registered 27 teams and hopes to reach their goal of $25,000, he said. "We want everyone to try their hardest, even though we know it's a difficult economy," he said. "Every little donation counts, even the small dollar amounts." Petersen said the teams have been busy raising funds in a variety of ways. The Greeks had an auction, USU Ambassadors held a concert Thursday, others are selling food and some have created donation boxes on Facebook. "It's been cool to see everyone pull together to fundraise and follow through to meet their goals," he said. "I'm excited to see the results." Petersen said he invites everyone to join the cause in any way they can, whether it is attending the Relay or donating to the fundraising events. Another way to support Relay for Life is to make a donation at www.relayforlife.org/utahstateuniversityut, he said, and everyone I See LIFE, page 6 last show Friday By LIS STEWART staff writer It will be one last hurrah for Logan singer-songwriter Libbie Linton. Linton, a Logan native, will be playing her last show as a USU student and possibly as a long-time resident of Logan this Friday. Linton is a self-producing folk artist who has played all around Utah and also in California, Idaho and Colorado. She has been gathering fans since before her Shackleton EP was released in 2006. Friday's show, like her first show, will be in a house, Linton said. Admission is free. "There's something really fun about house shows," Linton said. "It's a more social environment. It feels more like a party." The show is at 258 E. 100 North in Logan at 8 p.m. The bands Fictionist and Buffalo will be playing as well. Buffalo is a band comprised of USU students from Logan, Linton said. Fictionist is touring after the release of their second album, "Lasting Echo." After playing with Linton and Buffalo, Fictionist will be playing at the Box in Rexburg on Saturday, then on to California and Nevada. "You want intimate? How about a living room? House shows are always a blast," reports Fictionist's website. Fictionist collaborated with Linton on her album, "Bird I See CONCERT page 6 Polynesian culture showcased at luau By APRIL ASHLAND staff writer The Polynesian Student Union will be showcasing their heritage Friday at the Kent Concert Hall, with dancing from five different countries. Bri Maualauvao, sophomore in aviation, is the PR officer of PSU. She said the objective of the evening is to share the students' legacy with other students and members of the community. "Many of us don't know everything about our heritage," Maualauvao said. "We're learning, and we want to share what we learn, and what our ancestors have taught us, with you." There are many students in the luau, including some who aren't Polynesian. Madison Milligan, sophomore in dietetics, is one of these students. "I know the president of PSU, and I'd never danced before, so I thought I'd give it a shot," Milligan said. I See ALOHA, page 7 |