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FASS 2012 - Imprint review

This review appeared in the February 3, 2012 issue of Imprint.

FASS looks into the past

One of the relatively few stoic and serious scenes in the annual play put on by FASS. Courtesy Colleen Colbeck

Mika Ilic, Arts Editor

It's a rarity to find such a large and inclusive collective that are dedicated to their goal, but the Faculty, Alumni, Staff, and Students (FASS) theatre group do it annually. And with their 50th show coming up, they are doing what they do best with a little bit of a nostalgia trip.

"We did a revisionist history theme for our 50th anniversary year," Colleen Colbeck, producer of this year's play, said. "It is an irreverent retelling of our own history, almost entirely made up, although the central plot facts are still there."

FASS started out at as four guys who wanted to do something in the mundane month of February. It began as a bunch of skits in talent show form with no real connection or script.

It has now morphed into a coherent play with a theme each year. Though it is a performance put on for entertainment, FASS holds a deeper place within the public.

"It's always been about trying to foster a sense of community among the faculty, alumni, staff, and students around campus," Colbeck said. This is easy to see, considering how gruelling their schedules are.

FASS has eight months to write a script that they try to make humourous and three weeks to rehearse it. On top of that, they hold the mantra that anyone who auditions gets a part.

"When you audition, it's not 'are you good enough?' it's 'what part are you best suited for?'" she said, explaining how sometimes, actors and actresses are placed into parts due to their availability when things are constrained.

Colbeck also mentions that because of the high number of actors, restrictions to lines are made but actors are compensated by making each part equal in worth.

It's not all about the people taking part either, as the audience is incorporated in many ways as well.

"At the beginning of every show, we actually come out in front of the curtain with a couple of people and do an audience warm up.

We get the audience to stand up and do a bunch of acting enunciation warm ups with us or sing a little song. We make them stand up and participate; we have a very fun relationship with our audience."

Audience members can also "participate" during the Friday late show where previous actors and participants can yell and heckle, trying to break their character.

It's clear that a family is made between members and audience alike, and when asked what she wanted people to take away from the experience, Colbeck said it was a place where they can belong and be crazy.

FASS is performing Feb. 2 — Feb. 4 and is a great way to go out and support the community.