Figments
at Albert Einstein High School

Reviewed on November 9, 2013

Zoe Le Menestrel
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

Beneath every cool, exterior façade lays a fantastical, tumultuous world. This distorted reality grasps a person's hopes, dreams, worries and sorrows and magnifies them into hilarity. In what may be a worst nightmare scenario for some, Rick's inner world is brought to stage in Albert Einstein High School's Figments with uproarious hijinks and dauntless performers.

Theatre director and screenwriter Billy St. John wrote this clever comedy in 1995 and has since received attention from high schools and community theatres across the northeast. Figments pens the story of a playwright, Rick Jacobs, struggling with writer's block amidst love life issues due in large to his domineering mother. Rick's imagination plays out with his double and his love interest, Loni's, double but Rick can't even find peace in his own mind because of the recurrent figments of his mother, Loni's boyfriend Matt, his dead dad and his old girlfriend Sarah. Multiple storylines conjure complexity that Albert Einstein's cast and crew handled with gusto.

In the central role of the show, Marc Cioffi playing Rick Jacobs demonstrated a clear grasp of his character through his nervous physicality and matter of fact way of speaking. His truthfulness on stage especially in scenes where he interacted with his mother was endearing and brought many "awws" from the audience. His mother, Beatrice "Mama" Jacobs (Michiko Feehan) was a comedic force to be reckoned with, frequently stealing scenes (and laughter) with her constant scolding and smothering of her son. Her meddling combined with exaggerated facial expressions and a thick New York accent became the farcical force of the show among performers who lacked solid comedic timing.

Bringing vitality to Rick's aspiring murder mystery, Veronica (Elizabeth Lambert), David (Jordan Hill), Winston (Zachary Norris) and Louise (Nora Manzella) played off each other constructively becoming a cohesive ensemble. Their admirable versatility was demonstrated through their reflections of Rick's mindset, whether excruciatingly hung over or fervently energized. A stand out among them, Hill committed to his character with emotional displays and sincere reactions even when saying nothing-impressive in a cast that often forgot to engage when not directly part of the action. Exhibiting complete comfort and ease onstage, Rick 2 (Carlos Castillo) and Loni 2 (Adeline McCaul) established commendable chemistry through passionate interactions (in a closet no less) and wild piggyback rides.

Set design, sound effects and music tracks added realism and hilarity. A musical sequence from the film "Rocky" bolstered action near the climax of the show and violent shattering noises when an urn exploded spurred the actors to react accordingly. All sound was perfectly timed, although its volume sometimes overshadowed dialogue. An apartment spanning the entire stage cleverly made use of the space with archways that revealed the doubles' rowdiness, bringing laughs even in more serious scenes.
At the end of the day an overactive imagination isn't a terrible thing to have. Albert Einstein's Figments proved that fantasies can be the push needed to accomplish goals in an entertaining and heartwarming production.

Noah Mutterperl
Hayfield Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Montgomery

Murder, mystery, talking urns, hangovers, and medieval torture devices all sound like parts of the most ridiculous frat party ever, but they aren't. These are the thoughts that run through Rick Jacob's head as he goes through life. Together with a talented cast, they lead to one unreal, hilarious story in Albert Einstein High School's production of Figments.

The Dramatic Publishing Company published Figments, by author Billy St. John, in 1995. Although it never made it to Broadway, schools and community theaters continue to perform this original imaginative comedy. Figments tells of a day in the life of Rick Jacobs, a playwright with a serious case of writer's block. The characters of his latest work come to life onstage, acting out his ideas and performing scenes differently as he makes edits. Rick attempts to work through his writer's block while dealing with the women in his life – his overprotective mother and the attractive neighbor Loni, who has placed him firmly in the friend zone.

Rick's inability to express himself off the written page is manifested through the creation of alter egos of people in his own life, who act out thoughts Rick wishes he could share.

Listening to the advice of Imaginary Rick and using his creativity, Rick attempts to assert himself, write his play, get the girl, lose his mother and find happiness.

Marc Cioffi led the show as Rick Jacobs. Despite his ample stage time, he kept his energy and enthusiasm with the role the entire time. His physicality and sarcasm embodied the slightly awkward, yet heavily opinionated writer. Carlos Castillo, as Imaginary Rick was outstanding as well. Castillo's spot-on mannerisms and perfect comedic timing had the audience in stitches. Cioffi and Castillo worked well together, with speaking in unison and playing off one another.

Mickiko Feehan as Beatrice (Mama) was perfectly cast. Her voice infliction, stereotypical overbearing mother body language and quirks made her performance hysterical. Feehan and Cioffi formed a superb "mama and mama's boy" relationship. Noah Habenstreit as Rick's late Pop stood out from the ensemble, delivering lines with subtle wit all while appearing in an oversized funereal urn.

Adeline McCaul as Imaginary Loni had brilliant stage presence with charisma and a comic use of seduction. Castillo and McCaul shared excellent chemistry that can only be made-up in one's head, as they chased each other through the apartment, losing clothing, exaggerating the real attraction between Rick and Loni.

The set was well designed, and used the entire space. It was built to give the audience a sense of wonder, with objects moving on and off the stage without any techs visible, and giving the audience a second of questioning of how people ended up in certain rooms. The set strengthened the audience's experience. Sound effects and songs used gave a cinematic feel to the scenes where the figments of Rick's imagination acted out his play-in-progress and were executed well.

This comedy was both sincere and ludicrous, being heartfelt at times and utterly hilarious at others. The imagination of a writer personified made Figments enjoyable, creative, and a production to remember.

Grace Mattes
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

There is a disease that plagues all writers. This illness is called Writers Block. Rick Jacobs's case is severe, but add in a clingy mother and a crush who's taken and his condition seems hopeless. However, the help from some colorful imaginations may cure the nuisance.

Figments, written in 1995 by Billy St. John, takes place in present day New York. This comedy revolves around the life of the playwrite Rick Jacobs, who is having difficulties finishing his latest murder mystery. In order to help, the characters of his play come to life as figments of his imagination. While struggling to finish the story, he has other problems like his mother barging in and a crush that's dating someone else. With all this stress, it's no surprise that even more figments of friends and family come out. Despite all these characters around, Rick gets the end of his story and the girl.

The cast and crew of Albert Einstein's Figments put on an entertaining and amusing production. The actors were all devoted to their characters throughout the show. Also, the technical elements of the play were excellent at distinguishing between reality and imagination.

Marc Cioffi, who portrayed Rick, was great. He was on stage longer than anyone else in the show and was able to maintain superior energy and focus. His dedication to the part was evident as he portrayed a myriad of emotions. Also, Michiko Feehan was a hit as Mama. With the ashes of Rick's father in tow, her fussing over Rick came across hilariously. Michiko's ability to develop her character turned a silly mother into an endearing character who's love for her son really shined through.

The supporting cast was just equally enthusiastic as the leads. The mystery figures of Rick's play stood out in their ability to perform the same scene many times and still maintain the audience's attention. They did this using versatility during the scenes based on the feelings of Rick at that moment. Elizabeth Lambert as Veronica and Jordan Hill as David were prominent due to their obvious devotion to their parts. Also, the figments of Rick's real friends and family had admirable performances. Their hard work was clear in the way they took the original character's personality and amplified it to fit the imagination world in which they lived. Carlos Castillo as Rick 2 and Adeline McCaul as Loni 2 in particular were very entertaining in their roles.

The technical aspects of the show were respectable. The closet that was integrated into the apartment was was able to produce some hilarious moments in its ability to surprise the audience with cast members at random parts of the show. Also, the set had eclectic decorations everywhere including a Mr. Potato Head, a suit of armor, and even a portrait of Albert Einstein. Likewise, the costumes of the show were wonderful. They reflected the personality of the character very well. Furthermore, the costumes of the mystery figments coordinated which added a sense of consistency and unity throughout their differing scenes.

The endearing performance of Albert Einstein's Figments was amusing and well done. The actors had commendable performances and the technical parts of the show were admirable. Altogether the cast and crew had an excellent performance.

Lillian Constance
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

Writers Block. The worst fate a writer can face or at least the second worst after overbearing mothers. This past weekend, Albert Einstein High School showed us just how entertaining a writer's imagination can be in their production of Figments, by Billy St. John.

Figments was written by Billy St. John in 1995 and takes place in New York City in the apartment of writer Rick Jacobs. Rick (Mark Cioffi) hasn't had much luck with his love life or his writing: his mother drives away every woman he becomes close to, he's in love with his next door neighbor Loni (Lily Habenstreit) but she's dating an intimidating body builder (David Toro), and to make matters even worse; he has writers block. Throughout the play, the audience is entertained by "figments" of Rick's imaginations that are either braver or more exaggerated than their real counterparts. Figments is a relatively new play, having been written in the past decade, but has been received positively throughout North America.

Einstein's entertaining production was performed by an energetic cast who had the audience laughing in every scene. Michiko Feehan's hilarious portrayal of Rick's "Mama," was arguably the most entertaining of the night; she was able to perfectly capture the over-attached mother we all know too well. The entire ensemble of Rick's "figments" contributed to the comedy of the show while also helping the audience relate to Rick's hopes and fears. The inventive concept of this show paired with the casts high energy and creative light and sound display made for an enjoyable experience.

Cioffi convincingly captured the spirit of a middle-aged, homebody writer. His imaginary counterpart, Rick 2 (Carlos Castillo), did an exceptional, and hilarious portrayal of the daring person we all wish we could be. The phenomenal Feehan embodied "Mama" perfectly from every nuance of her character. She captured the audience's hearts with her humorous remarks and heartfelt declarations of love for Rick.

It's not every show that we get to see what goes on in a writers mind. This production would not have been the same without the ensemble of Rick's figments of imagination. Imaginary Loni (Adeline McCaul) and Rick (Castillo) had the audience roaring with laughter when their relationship became more physical. The imaginary cast of Rick's new murder mystery was also incredibly entertaining, from the beautiful and sarcastic Veronica (Elizabeth Lambert) to the flamboyant corpse David (Jordan Hill).

The set allowed a variety of action for the characters, from closets that seemingly held unlimited amounts of people to a kitchen with room enough for figments of imagination, make-out sessions for imaginary Rick and Loni, and Mama's cooking. A creative light display and dynamic musical alerted the audience to whenever Rick's imagination was at work.

Fellow writers as well as others who appreciate the struggles of love and creativity should all come to see Albert Einstein High School's entertaining production of Figments.

Lindsay Bur
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - ARL/MC/Mont/DC

Intoxicatingly funny and hilariously witty, Figments by Billy St.John at Albert Einstein High School will leave you gasping for air. Set in present day New York City, a struggling playwright attempts to tell both his next door neighbor and his smothering Jewish mother how he really feels about them, all the while trying to keep his imaginary characters in check and finish his play.

Stumped over a gargantuan case of writers block, Rick plays out in his head the opening scene of his murder mystery and a cast of figments play out the scene for the audience. As guests arrive at Rick's apartment, they come along with their own figments, all of which reside in Rick's imagination. Although Rick is often shy and soft spoken, his figment is loud and boisterous, letting the audience know what Rick would really like to be saying. As figments from the murder mystery clash with the figment doubles of each character, an all-out brawl breaks out to determine what Rick's fate will be with the girl next door and his overbearing mother.

Driven by a strong ensemble of characters and their uncanny likeness to their figments, the cast was able to peak the interest of the audience with unique character quirks while gliding easily through complicated scenes. The stunning set allowed the actors to move fluidly from one place to another, coming in and out of closet doors and hallways with surprising versatility.

The figment double of Rick's love interest, Loni 2 (Adeline McCaul) never ceased to amaze with her witty quips and comic timing. Voicing exactly what you would expect Rick would want Loni to say, Loni 2 was vivacious, sassy, and confident. The perfect portrayal of the well-known girl next door archetype, Loni 2 had seamless costume changes, enigmatic chemistry with Rick 2, and a saucy attitude that left the audience in stitches.

Although it was sometimes hard to understand some of the main characters, the mystery figments ensemble and their adaptability to their ever-changing motivations made up for any shortcomings. The ensemble had to adjust quickly to the emotions and attitudes of their playwright Rick, and did so by changing their voices, movements, motivations, and characterizations flawlessly. A notable character in this ensemble was David (Jordan Hill), who said it best himself, "It's hard to play a corpse." Nonetheless, he played a lively and hilarious corpse that brought down the house.

Acting as truly an extension of the cast, the Einstein Lighting, Sound and Stage Management crews did a fantastic job. The lighting design was not only clever but greatly enhanced the mood of the show, it was used to portray the changing attitudes of the mystery ensemble and it was extremely effective. Music such as the Rocky theme song and film noir style songs gave the audience insight into the fantasies of Rick and his attempts to break his writers block.

Figments, a new show that is mostly unknown, was a surprising hit. Thoroughly entertaining and wildly funny, the actors gave new insight into what goes through a playwright's mind and the power of imagination.

Brooke Docherty
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Montgomery Gazette

An overly involved mother, a jealous, "walking steroid" of a man, and a seemingly unattainable young lady are all factors that prevent Rick Jacobs, a New York playwright, from being able to finish his current project. These conflicts are explored in Billy St. John's Figments which parallels Rick's imagination with his bitter reality as he finds a way to try to combine the two to solve the problems of his life.

As an already struggling playwright trying to make it in New York, it certainly does not help that Rick Jacobs has been self-diagnosed with a case of writer's block. Despite his endless efforts, he cannot seem to get past the first scene of what he had envisioned to be a groundbreaking mystery production. He can attribute this to the constant interruptions of his mother who not only interferes with his work, but even more prominently in his love life. While Rick was already having difficulty in his attempt to escape the friend-zone of his neighbor Loni, the clinginess and controlling nature of his mother only contributed further complications to this mission.

The charisma of the figments was an essential aspect to the overall success of the production. In order to fully depict the exaggerated personality of the character they mirror, a certain energy had to be maintained throughout their stage time, even when they were not provided lines to keep this up. Most of the cast was able to do so, while a few members were sometimes lacking involvement when they were not speaking.

Before Mama (Michiko Feehan) even had the chance to walk on stage, she was already a crowd favorite as she screeched from offstage in a scratchy and naggy voice that portrayed her annoying, yet innocent and amusing character. Feehan did an impressive job of not relying on her comedic lines to make the audience laugh. She used a distinguished and consistent character voice, a careful and sluggish walk, and multiple small actions such as checking her pulse after a scare fro Rick; these details combined to develop a round and loveable character.

The chemistry between figment Rick (Carlos Castillo) and figment Loni (Adeline McCaul) was playful and strong, making the duo all the more enjoyable to watch. It was evident that the two actors were quite comfortable with each other which allowed them to have fun with the roles and make acting decisions that were perhaps a little overly risqué. The team worked together to help Rick say the words that only his figment had the courage to express to Loni.

Albert Einstein's sound crew got creative with it's musical selections that perfectly suited the tone of the mystery scenes. They brilliantly moved from mystery to romance and eventually to a musical sequence from the film "Rocky" that exemplified Rick's determination. Although this music was sometimes overpowering over the already hard to hear actors, their originality was still impressive. The lighting was another important addition to the show that helped the audience distinguish imagination from reality.

Figments is a highly creative and wacky show that, although a bit cheesy at times, allowed the audience to have as much fun watching as the cast seemed to be having while performing.

Katherine McCool
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Nucleus

When imagination runs wild, the possibilities are endless. When a playwright lets his thoughts wander, it's quite the opposite. Daydreams mix with past lovers, an inebriated murder mystery results from one too many, and an irritating mother just won't keep her nose out of everyone's business. You'll be seeing double at Albert Einstein High School's production of Figments as imagination comes to life on stage.

This full-length comedy by Billy St. John opens to a melancholy Rick Jacobs in his present-day New York apartment. The previous two months of the dreaded "writer's block" have left him in a hopeless state of misery. Rick's dreams are occupied by a murder mystery that is continuously interrupted by blood-and-thunder fabrications of his mind. The playwright endeavors to balance his overdramatic figments while lusting over the girl of his dreams, managing his intractable mother, and attempting to write the perfect play.

Each actor in the cast of Figments embodied his or her role meticulously. Marc Cioffi (Rick) epitomized Rick's frantic personality and illuminated the stage with passionate vitality. Michiko Feehan (Mama Jacobs) offset Cioffi's spasmodic actions and delivered her lines with a foreceful "mother-knows-best" ardor. Feehan's character of Mama evolved and shaped with Mama's realization of Rick's love for Loni. Feehan additionally managed to maintain Mama's passionately stubborn demeanor, creating a deep character that was brimming with surprises.

Rick's imagined characters of his murder mystery mimicked the tumbling storyline of the play. The four actors illustrated the trials and errors Rick faced with humor and suitable melodrama. Veronica, performed by Elizabeth Lambert, displayed a shocking range of expression. Her reactions reflected Rick's rollercoaster of emotions as she executed the same scene multiple times, acting intoxicated, overly theatrical, and decrepit, all with drastic variations. Veronica's murdered counterpart David (Jordan Hill) enhanced the mystery scenes with comical facial responses and a continual awareness of his fellow actors onstage. Hill's entertaining imitation of the role displayed that a corpse can be a droll part of any murder mystery.

Character choices for the real-life parts were expertly mirrored by the supporting cast. Rick 2, played by Carlos Castillo, emulated Cioffi's movements and exaggerated them to depict the humorously histrionic interactions between the figments of Rick's imagination. Adeline McCaul (Loni 2) added to the extravagant display of emotions as she and Castillo scandalously emphasized the communications between real-life Rick and Loni. Some actors seemed unfocused at times but the lively spirit between most performers kept the play at a dynamic level.

The set of Figments, made by Sarah Becker and the Einstein Stage Crew, contained many doors, platforms, and entrances, all of which were functional and pleasing to the eye. The animated character actions were supported completely by the colorful set, which did not squeak or make any unwanted noise. The sound cues were well timed and clever. A raucous telephone ring astutely represented Rick's reception to noise the morning after his tipsy night of intoxication. Musical background sounds occasionally overpowered the actor's vocals; however, the music perfectly fit the mood of each scene in the play.

Albert Einstein's thespians delivered an uproarious showcase full of spirit and animation. Imaginations ran wild as Figments hit the stage and touched funny bones everywhere.