The Compass
Thursday, March 21, 2002
7
AN ECSU JUNIOR DIRECTS A VIDEO GAME HEROINE IS AN
FULL LENGTH PRODUCTION INSPIRATION TO ALL WOMEN
Nykki Houston
earthbeads @ yahoo.com
Imagine you had complete control
of everything around you and every
person whom you came Into contact
with. You had the power to make them
move where you wanted, say what you
wanted, even make a fool out of them if
you wanted. If you had complete control,
would you be able to handle it? I was
given the opportunity to answer this
question this semester when I became
director for the University Player’s pro
duction of Crimes of the Heart.
This play is set in the MacGrath
family kitchen in Hazlehurst, Mississippi.
At the beginning of the play Lenny
(Rebecca Goehring) is celebrating her
birthday in solitude. The middle sister,
Meg (Julia Todd), returns home after
receiving a telegram that their younger
sister. Babe (Krystle Lee), is in jail for
shooting her husband. The plot
progresses with the introduction of Meg’s
ex-boyfriend Doc Porter (Chris Figgs)
and Babe’s lawyer Barnette Lloyd
(Michel Edwards).
It was a challenge for me to take on
the responsibility of directing this full-
length play. Being a playwright, I under
stand that there are specific things that
you want the audience to leave with after
they view your play A playwright has a
certain message he or she wants to
expose the audience to. As a director, I
have to know what that message is and
how to make sure the audience walks
away with it.
One of the most challenging things
about directing is communicating with
the actors. When I give blocking instruc
tions, which is specific movements that
the actors must do during different
scenes in the play, I had a certain move
ment or look or sound that I saw in a
vision. When this didn’t come across, it
became very frustrating for me, as well
as my actors, to get it right. Sometimes
this resulted in a demonstration and
repetition.
Another challenge that I found in
directing is making sure that everything
gets done. There are so many different
things that come together when putting
on a play. Props, things handled by the
actors onstage, set pieces, costumes,
makeup, hair, the list goes on and on.
Although there are many challenges
and responsibilities in directing a play, it
was an opportunity that I am very privi
leged to have had. Directing is hard
work, but as long as your actors have fun
and the audience has fun, it is well worth
it.
Antonio Barrow
Assistant Editor
thegreatchefOI @ yahoo.com
Women have been considered
inferior to men for centuries. Although
the Bible speaks of women being “the
weaker vessel,” it does not mean that
you must completely give up everything
to support him. In the first book of the
Old Testament in the Bible, the story of
the creation of man and woman unfolds.
Genesis 2:23 says: “And Adam said, this
is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.
She shall be called woman.” He was
talking about Eve, his helper. Eve was
taken from Adams rib and wonderfully
formed. She was created from his side
to be his helper, but also his equal.
Many women are oppressed by
their husbands and boyfriends. In that
case, women have little to no freedom.
They abuse women physically, socially,
emotionally, and mentally. To help en
courage the women everywhere, this
inspiration will focus on a female video
game star, Princess Peach Toadstool.
Many video game fanatics know
about the Super Mario Brothers video
game released in the 1980s. This was
the introduction of Peach, Mario’s girl
friend, who was always captured by King
Bowser Koopa.
Later, Super Mario Brothers 2 was
released and Peach had her chance to
shine in this adventure. Although her
strength was poor, she had an advan
tage that Mario, Luigi, or Toad did not
have. Because of her dress, she was
able to float for about five seconds in the
air. But this game was based on Mario’s
dream, so Peach actually played a
significant role in his dream, not in his
real adventures.
In Super Mario Brothers 3, Peach
helped Mario by giving him clues that will
help him later during his adventures.
She also gave him an item to help him
along the way.
In 1996, Peach starred in Super
Mario RPG: The Legend of the Seven
Stars. The game started off with Bowser
kidnapping Peach. Mario went to fight
Bowser and rescued Peach. Before
anything could happen, the new boss.
Smithy caused an earthquake, which
sent the three characters into three
separate sections of the world. Mario
traveled along and made new friends '
and then found Peach trapped in
Booster’s Tower. Booster took Peach to
a church to get married, but Mario saved
her When she is rescued and returned
to her castle, she wanted to help Mario,
but her father would not allow her. She
went to her room and waited for Mario to
leave. She took on Mary Poppins’ role of
floating out the window with her parasol.
Without Peach, Mario would not be able
to fight the new boss by himself. She
helped him out a lot with her special ‘
moves, especially the “Group Hug,”
which restored the group’s life, and the
“Psych Bomb,” where she threw many-
bombs at all of the enemies.
In Paper Mario, Peach was cap-':
tured again, but she still helped Mario,
throughout the game by sneaking
around the castle to find items, secrets,
and at the end, helped Mario defeat the
invincible Bowser.
Peach has become a great example
of a woman who refused to be held down
by the oppressor. Mario helped her '
many times, but now, she helps Mario.
She proved herself to be an independent
and a courageous woman. She fought
boldly against the oppressor, and still
took care of her kingdom.
Though Peach is a mere fictional,
character in popular video games, she is
still an example for how realistic modern
women should be. Though she is still
Mario’s helper, she is still strong and ‘
significant, contrary to popular male
beliefs.
Come Out and Enjoy Stu
dent Written, Directed, and
Acted Plays During the
Annual One-Act Festival
on April 16 & 17. Admis
sion is Free. For More In
formation or if you would
'^4ike to audition, call 33^^
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESE OUTSTANDING WOMEN?
See Answers ort page 8