ARTS

Performing Artists Group of City College Surrounded by Friends and Family at Fringe Festival Finale
By Asiana Ponciano
Guardsman Staff Writer

While the lights were low at Exit on Taylor, one of the venues at this year's Fringe Festival, the spirits of the cast members of "Animal Farm" were high. It was the final performance for the California Travel Troupe, the touring name for the Performing Artists Group at City College. The performers' family and friends were in the audience ready to be entertained.

Photos by Norma Perez Brema Squealer (Nadine DeFranoux) and Napoleon (Janet Johnson) laugh, as they sell out Animal Farm to the humans.

Sunday, September 14, marked the finale of the Twelfth Annual Fringe Festival, a week-and-a-half long variety showcase of live theater performances in downtown San Francisco.

Cast member Glenda Solis enjoyed how each production was executed in a quick manor.

"Get in there, fifteen minutes to setup, get on stage, do it in an hour, and get off in fifteen minutes. It adds another element of energy that you don't always get in other types of venues," Solis said.

The California Travel Troupe has been an avid participant in the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and has won awards for their performances. This year the group decided to stay close to home.

"Our friends get to come," said cast member Eli Whitman, who traveled to Scotland with the troupe in previous years.

With a combination of dialogue, song, music, minimal costumes and set design, the California Travel Troupe performed a musical rendition of "Animal Farm", the George Orwell classic, for four days during the festival.

"Animal Farm" was adapted for the stage by Daniel Curzon, an award-winning playwright and City College English professor. Former City College student, Ann Shay directed the play.

It was a lot of hard work," said Curzon, who enjoyed watching the play for a second time.

After the performance, Shay announced to the audience that the playwright was there, and Curzon received a respectful round of applause.

According to cast members, the audience reac-tion was positive throughout the week.

"We've been told that we were very faithful to the book and everyone enjoyed the relationships between the animals," Solis said. "It was a different interpretation, and I think it was enjoyed by everyone."