By Mario Montalvo/ne news editor
The NE drama department will perform the comedic play Duck Hunter Shoots Angel Nov. 30-Dec 3.
The play, written by Mitch Albom, best-selling author of Tuesdays With Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, is about the events that ensue after two simple Alabama brothers accidentally shoot an angel while duck hunting in the swamp. Sandy, a New York tabloid reporter, arrives to cover the story.
“It’s about family, to sum it up in one word,” said actor Zeke Branim, who plays Sandy.
Race, culture, media and redemption are also running themes in the play. It is also a story of love and loss.
It’s about “realizing what’s most important in your life, career or family,” said Jessica Lambert, who plays Sandy’s ex-girlfriend. “My character is a woman who got pregnant at a very young age and had to raise a child all by herself because the love of her life left to pursue his career in New York City.”
Despite some serious themes, the play is a comedy as Rachel DeLeon’s character, the Gator Man, demonstrates.
The Gator Man “was eaten by an alligator, and the alligator came back as a man,” DeLeon said. “It’s just a creature in Sandy’s mind for this story he came up with that was a big hit, and it’s always there in his memories.”
Overall, cast members said preparation for the play has gone well.
“It’s been one of the best rehearsal processes that I’ve had,” Branim said.
Playing Sandy isn’t much of a stretch for Branim.
“He doesn’t notice things, and I don’t notice things in real life,” he said. “There’s a scene in the play where he’s talking to his girlfriend at the time, who’s pregnant, and he’s just completely oblivious [to her pregnancy]. And that would be me, as much as I hate to admit that.”
The hardest part about preparing for the play has been working on his New York accent, Branim said.
Outside of rehearsal, Lambert practices her lines, but she’s also in an acting class.
“I use some of the techniques in there to learn tactics and goals for each individual scene I’m in so it has more life,” she said.
Priscilla Hatcher, who plays the angel, also thinks rehearsals have gone well.
“We’ve been really productive,” she said.
Showtimes are at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Admission is free for TCC students, faculty and staff, $3 for non-TCC students and senior citizens and $6 for the general public.
Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 817-515-6687 or by email at neplayhouse@tccd.edu.
