'Bedroom Farce' opens at ECC

If you ask Robert Hines what his role is at Elgin Community College, he will always say he's a teacher first and a director second.

It's a style he believes serves him well as director for the school's production of “Bedroom Farce,” a comedy about four couples' relationships and how they evolve over the course of one night.

“Bedroom Farce” will premiere at 8 p.m. Friday, April 22, and will run through Sunday, May 8. Performance times vary. The play will be performed at ECC Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin.

“Bedroom Farce” employs comedy and a dash of slapstick to keep audience members entertained. The play also contains elements of drama.

“It's definitely a comedy. It's a farce, but it's a combination and more a comedy than anything,” Hines said.

“There's also some moments that should be touching that make the audience think about their own relationships. My background is in improv.”

Hines, whose previous acting and improvisational acting experience includes stints at Chicago's famed Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre Company, came to ECC with the hope of directing shows that students could feel somewhat in control of.

“I'm really excited to (put on ‘Bedroom Farce') and I think that I've put the students in the position where they understand and they're confident in what they're doing,” Hines said.

“There's an ownership that they have of (the production) now.”

For actor and ECC student Shannon Kerin, 21, of Bartlett, this directing style works.

“It's a completely different experience (performing in this show). It's a lot more free-form and letting us decide how we want to act,” Kerin, who is playing the character Jan, said.

“It was hard at first having the freedom to try news things, but it is really fun.”

The entire cast is composed of members of Hines' acting ensemble class. Students had to try out and get into the play before they could enroll in the class.

“Some of them have done shows at ECC and for some of them it's their first large role. It's a good mix of students,” Hines said.

One cast member, Jose Lopez, had to join the cast last Tuesday after another cast member had to leave unexpectedly.

Lopez, 28, from Elgin, records his scenes and listens to them whenever he has downtime in the car or at home. Despite his rushed efforts to get his part down, Lopez remains confident in the cast's ability to pull off an amazing show.

“The cast is phenomenal. They're taking the time to help me go over my lines and learn my blocking and learn the relationships (that the characters have,” Lopez said.

Hines is confident in his show.

“I believe in the performance and the production,” Hines said.

“The success that I'm seeing is the development of students as the actors develop and their commitment does too.”

Other cast members include Megan Beth, Jacque Currie, Casey Martinson, Vinny Prisco, Paula Smiech, and Annie Zickefoose.

For details on the show or to purchase tickets, visit elgin.edu/arts or call (847) 622-0300.

If you go

What: “Bedroom Farce,” a comedy about four couples' relationships and how they evolve over the course of one night

When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, April 22-23, 29-30 and May 6-7; 3 p.m. Sundays, May 1 and 8.

Where: Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin

Tickets: $ 11, $ 9 students and seniors

Details: elgin.edu/arts; (847) 622-0300