Volume CXXXI, Number 22 April 19, 2002 f

Elements of Drama garners praise, laughs
MONICA GUZMAN
ORIENT STAFF

Bowdoin life is full of spectacle-everywhere you look there's an endless supply of nasty breakups, nervous courtships, long-held grudges, and all-out catfights. Our College offers a wealth of dramatic material, so it's only right that someone finally made a movie out of it.

Where else could you see Timmy Pasakarnis '03 watering plants with beer, Hari Kondabolu '04 as a disgruntled math professor, a scandalous up-and-down shot of Lynne Davies '04, and Toby Walch '03 scratching his brief-covered butt? Where else, indeed, but in graduate Stephen Allison's and sophomore Philip Webster's revealing film debut, The Elements of Drama.

The film, a "Heaven Knows Mr. Allison" production, was filmed last semester and had its world premiere in the luxurious Beam Classroom in the Visual Arts Center this Tuesday night. Among those attending were Mr. Allison himself, who wrote and directed the film, his co-director and cinematographer Phil Webster, the star-studded all-Bowdoin cast, various members of the Bowdoin Men's and Women's Track teams, and a crowd of curious Bowdoin students.

The Elements of Drama offers more than the glories of college life; it's the story of Chris (Stephen Allison), a star Bowdoin runner with a passion for the sport, who meets Elise, (Lynne Davies), a fellow student, and learns that the only thing standing between them is her boyfriend Ryan (Todd Forsgren '03), his archrival runner from Williams with bad hair and an attitude. After numerous confrontations between the two guys, Elise and Ryan break up. Then Chris struggles to find the confidence to beat Ryan at the next meet and find a way to get the girl.

The film had its fair share of hilarity, as was made obvious by the constant outbursts of laughter. Inside jokes, track team puns, and colorful Bowdoin jargon is strewn throughout the drama. Not to mention the fact that seeing one's friends make total fools of themselves on the "big" screen is funny all on its own.

Particularly humorous were Chris's trio of friends, played by Geoff Cole '04, Jeff Manganaro '03, and Tung Trinh '04 as High Jump Lee. They provided the beer-guzzling college-style comic relief in addition to some moral support for their pal. Also notable was Kat Martens '04, who played Lynn's annoyed but supportive roommate Kath, and, of course, the unstoppable Hari Kondabolu, whose cameo as Chris's math professor was met with immediate and long-lasting applause.

Kudos to the filmmakers for adding an outtakes section after the movie-a nice little comic dessert. As if the film weren't funny enough already, we also get to see repeated instances of inappropriate handling of pool cues and Geoff Cole getting smacked in the face by his English tutor.

Steve and Phil would like to thank the Bowdoin Men's and Women's Track teams for participating in the larger crowd sequences, and Coach Slovenski for helping with some little details and for the use of Farley Field House. They also want to give "mad props" to the entire cast for making The Elements of Drama come together so well.