It’s been said the pen is mightier than the sword ? but it’s still no match for the eraser.
The Oxford Middle School Drama Club’s production of the ‘Comic Book Artist? will prove that point when the curtain goes up at 7:31 p.m. Friday, March 23.
Magical pens, superheroes (sort of) and a villain who can stop time will keep audience members on the edge of their seats and laughing out loud as they watch a comic book come to life.
Written by Pat Lydersen and directed by Drama Club adviser Jack Gray, the play follows the adventures of Stanley Leonardo Sappovitz as he transforms from mild-mannered janitor into the greatest of all superheroes ? Eraser Man.
Eighth-grader Steve Nara plays Sappovitz, a frustrated artistic genius who lands a job sweeping floors at the fictional Wunder Comics. More than anything, Sappovitz wants to draw comic books, but his boss is oblivious to his talent.
Nara’s ‘been in every show since the sixth grade,? Gray said. ‘He’s a really talented kid and a really good speaker.?
One day the comic book company’s owner, D.C. Wunderman, orders a shipment of magical pens guaranteed to bring to life any character his artists create.
Wunderman is played by seventh-grader Dan Stockard, whom Gray described as a ‘loud little guy who plays it up really big.?
?(Stockard) plays it like a Mel Brooks type character,? the director said. ?(Wunderman’s) always kind of freakin? out and he’s really just in it for the money.?
Not realizing the true power of the magical pens, Wunderman’s staff artists unwittingly create a dastardly super villain named Doctor Shock Clock.
Played by seventh-grader Larissa Krueger, the powerful Doctor Shock Clock can stop time with a mere snap of her cold fingers.
‘She’s well cast as an evil genius,? said Gray of Krueger. ‘She’s one kid on stage who might not even need a microphone.?
Helping Doctor Shock Clock carry out her insidious crimes is a gang of henchmen appropriately called the Minutos, played by Jillian Walker, Katelyn Bearse and Janelle Zuccaro.
The head Minuto is Second Hand, played by seventh-grader Liz LaBrash.
‘Liz is very into physical comedy,? Gray said. ‘She doesn’t say much, but she does a lot of stuff. The other Minutos will do cartwheels and look kind of impressive. She does a somersault and falls.?
To battle Doctor Shock Clock and her Minutos, Sappovitz uses the magical pens to create an odd band of misfit superheroes he dubs the ‘Fabulous Four.?
First, there’s the egotistical Star Guy, played by seventh-grader Zach Throne.
Although Star Guy’s ‘very, very vain? and wears a costume remisicent of Superman, Gray said, ‘He basically has no powers at all.?
‘He can’t fly. He can’t do anything,? he explained.
So, Sappovitz draws him a ‘charisma ray? and whoever he shoots with it automatically loves him.
‘It actually ends up being a tragic flaw because he wants everybody to love him all the time so he shoots people at the wrong times,? Gray said.
Next, there’s Blossom, an environmentally correct superhero played by eighth-grader Rachel Miller.
Gray described this hero has a ‘touchy, feely vegetarian,? who uses magical sleeping potion flowers to fight the bad guys.
Triple Time, played by eighth-graders Jasmine and Jade Vickery, is endowed with super speed. Although the character is a single person in the script, she’s being played by identical twins.
‘They both auditioned really well,? Gray said. ‘Normally that might be a problem, but I happened to have this character who runs really fast.?
So, Gray decided to create a ‘really low-tech, simple special effect.?
To create the illusion of super speed, one quickly hides while the other appears somewhere else on stage.
‘It’s as if she ran really fast, then stopped,? Gray said.
Rounding out Sappovitz? crew of superheroes is the grouchy, but good-hearted Wombat Woman, played by eighth-grader Kim Griggs.
‘She’s really upset about being drawn as a Wombat,? Gray explained. ‘She looks like a furry, fat groundhog.?
Other than being able to burrow through anything with her really strong legs, Wombat Woman ‘basically has no powers whatsoever.?
To prevent her from burrowing through him, Sappovitz draws Wombat Woman with a glittery mask, cape and hat, all of which really don’t help her look.
The superheroes combine their powers in a hilarious effort to stop Doctor Shock Clock and her Minutos from pulling off the greatest heist of all time in where else, but Times Square!
In the end, the brave, yet bumbling superheroes have to be rescued by Sappovitz, who saves the day by becoming Eraser Man.
Watch it all unfold in the OMS Commons Friday, March 23 beginning at 7:31 p.m.
Tickets for the play are $4 for adults and $2 for ages 18 and under. Popcorn and refreshments will be available for purchase.
All proceeds go to the OMS Drama Club.