The theater story behind 'Story Theatre'

Published: Friday, October 28, 1994

School of Theater brings Aesop and Grimm tales to life

By Jeana Blackman

Acting director Mel Shapiro finds purity in the simplicity of UCLA's "Story Theatre."

Shapiro describes the show, and its message, most succinctly. "It's not Shakespeare," he says, "There's no great meaning. It's universal tales of greed, misadventure, and trickery; things that still go on today."

The play, based on the familiar fables of Aesop and the Brothers Grimm, plays from Oct. 28 to Nov. 7 at the Little Theater.

Shapiro, a professor at the School of Theater says, "Sometimes a simpler tale tells a better story." Shapiro is filling in for Tony award winning actor Ron Leibman who initially directed the play. Always the actor, Leibman left for New York last Friday to tape a segment of the TV show "Law and Order."

Shapiro is quick to give credit where credit is due. "Ron is a wonderful teacher, he's very devoted," Shapiro says. And the actors in the play agree.

Theater student Barrett Barnes adds, "[Ron's] a no-nonsense, no bullshit director. He's very straightforward."

Yet there is more to the story than the direction. Acting is the driving force behind this play. In fact, Leibman's experience as an actor was probably just what this type of piece needed.

"(Ron's) really funny," says Katherine Cheonis, a third-year master of fine arts acting student. "He's Mister Anecdote." He's got some stories to tell. As an actor, Liebman has won several awards for his performances, the latest one being the Tony for his portrayal of Roy Cohn in "Angels in America." As a director, he brought that training to the rehearsals.

While we talk, the other seven members of the troupe join us behind the theater. Some smoke a quick cigarette before being called in for an evaluation of the preview. They are eager to talk about Leibman and his directing style.

"(Leibman) is actor orientated," Barnes says, which, the students agree, gave them more freedom to create the piece for themselves and take different directions.

"It was a group exploration," Paul Benson, another actor, adds. This group included the director. "From day one he treated us like we're the gang," Cheonis says. "He talked to us as if we're peers."

"At the beginning, (Leibman) didn't have a specific concept," Johanna McKay, also a third year master of fine arts acting student, says. "We (the actors) played around with each piece and decided how they may apply to today," McKay continues.

One of the first concepts they had for the "Henny Penny" piece revolved around the AIDS scare. When that didn't work, the simple fairy tale became a metaphor for the hysteria the media can sometimes produce.

That particular piece was more personal for Cheonis, who played Henny Penny. "It was my debut as a chicken," she said. "I was embarrassed up until the end."

But as Shapiro says, "('Story Theatre') is about transformations, which is fundamentally what acting is about."

Even if you're a chicken.

THEATER: "Story Theater" running at UCLA's Little Theater in MacGowan Hall. Tickets today through Nov. 5. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. UCLA faculty and staff $9, students $6, general $12. For ticket information call (310) 825-2101.