‘Thar she blows’ at OCC

Tom Titus

Short of adapting “War and Peace” for the stage, there are few more

demanding assignments than turning Herman Melville’s classic novel

“Moby Dick” into a theatrical production. But Orange Coast College

has accomplished this Herculean task most impressively.

There’s no way any theater, from Broadway on down, is going to

recreate a gigantic white whale the way Steven Spielberg attempted --

and often succeeded -- to scare the pants off movie audiences with a

big rubber shark in “Jaws.” So, the title role must be left to the

playgoer’s imagination, placing an extra burden on the interpretive

talents of the OCC cast.

“Moby Dick,” adapted by OCC’s David Scaglione, and directed by

Alex Golson, is a powerful and often compelling project, its drama

and suspense dependent on the images created in the audience’s mind

by the actors’ fervent dialogue and a young sailor’s awestruck

narrative.

A large ensemble cast -- most in virtually anonymous assignments

--recreates the arduous life on the whaler Pequod, and draws the

viewer into the captain’s mad quest for the gigantic sea creature,

which once severed his leg.

Teddy Spencer renders Capt. Ahab, the obsessively single-minded

skipper, with power and passion in a compelling performance. Spencer

adds a furious, almost operatic dimension to this haunted figure as

he sacrifices humanity and the lives of others to press on with his

suicidal mission. Jason Justin as Ishmael, the rookie seaman who

narrates the tale and becomes the voyage’s sole survivor, paces his

account with a wide-eyed breathlessness that draws the playgoer into

the saga. Jaime Ballesteros is imposing as the savage harpooner

Queequeg, who offers an eerie premonition of the voyage. The first

mate, Starbuck, who both despises and reveres Ahab, is given a

splendidly layered performance by Rudolph Niemann. Travis Stolp and

Sean Engard impress as other ship’s officers Vincent Torres has a

riveting turn as a nearly drowned, and maddened, young seaman. Tony

A. Swagler doubles strongly as Rev. Mapple prior to the voyage and as

an enraged ship captain during the crisis at sea.

Scaglione not only has adapted this epic tale, he’s also designed

the unit set and period costumes, which lend an air of authenticity.

Rick Golson’s lighting patterns magnify the drama, aided by Corina

Gonzalez’s sound effects.

“Moby Dick” is being presented only this week as a special project

for high school classes to further their enrichment of the

required-reading Melville novel. Scaglione and his OCC troops clearly

have done their homework.

*

Turning a bit personal, my special lady, Jurine, is looking for

people who would enjoy getting together to form a small vocal group

to volunteer to sing for hospitals, retirement homes, nursing

facilities, etc. Those interested may e-mail her at

[email protected].

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Fridays.