A storied tradition since at least the ‘90s, the one-act has been a theatrical institution at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. This year, BSM is putting on the comedic play Knock-Knock, written by Kathryn Funkhouser and Jason Pizzarello.
The play is centered around a duo of delivery people trying to get through a day’s deliveries and the adventures they encounter, from being attacked by dogs to interrupting a burglary. “The last couple [one-act plays] that we’ve done were… tableau comedies. So…[that’s where] a bunch of scenes [are] put together, but they connect in one big theme, which allows you to have a little more flexibility,” artistic director Jake Mahler said.
One-act is a theatrical activity with a competitive aspect, where fewer than twenty actors perform a short play that only has one act, rather than multiple acts. Unlike most traditional plays, one-act does not include choreography or musical numbers– just regular lines and simple movements. According to senior Jonathan McMerty-Brummer, the format and simplicity have their advantages and disadvantages. “In one sense this makes it easier to prepare for as there’s less to remember and it feels more similar to how we normally are, but this can also bring some problems. Firstly, because it is so simple and pared down, a line misdelivery or the wrong move at the wrong time is a lot more noticeable,” McMerty-Brummer said in an email interview.
The competitive aspect of one-act also sets it apart from other theatrical performances. Plays are judged based on several criteria, including the physical and vocal characterizations of the actors, the play’s technical elements, and the ensemble’s effectiveness. In January, the BSM one-act cast will compete at sections against 12 other schools. “We go up against different schools from around the Minneapolis area, trying to perform as best as we can compared to other schools. We are doing two competitions this year,” senior David Peterson said.
With rehearsals and competitions held throughout December and January, actors are on a tighter schedule than for a traditional play. Compared to the fall musical, Little Women, which had thirty rehearsals, the one-act only has thirteen. “This means that actors have to do a lot more work memorizing lines and practicing scenes on their own,” McMerty-Brummer said.
Despite the short number of rehearsals, the one-act group makes the most of their time. Rehearsals are usually spent running through lines or blocking scenes–choreographing how the scene will run and where everything will be placed. “During our free time [in rehearsal] we just practice it…and try to memorize our lines so that way we can do smooth run-throughs of [the one act],” Peterson said.
In addition to competing throughout the season, the one-act will hold a performance at BSM on January 30th. “I think this particular show [the BSM community] should come see. You see a lot of people making a lot of bold, weird choices in a frenetic, fun…30-minute sitcom of sorts,” Mahler said.