Get Smart
at University

Reviewed on November 16, 2018

Cameron Newman
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Mission Accomplished at Uni's "Get Smart"
written by Cameron Newman, a junior at San Juan Hills High School

A shoe calls the president, fortune cookies contain secret codes, blondes are disappearing, and baseball game wins are… bad news? The world hasn't gone mad, it's just University High School's production of "Get Smart"! Based on the 1967 television show, this slapstick espionage comedy features CONTROL, a top secret government agency, and its efforts to stop the evil organization KAOS from destroying the world.

Leading the operation is CONTROL's Maxwell Smart (Davide Costa), a suave secret agent with all the right moves. With supersized gestures and ego, Costa saunters across the stage and declares he's saved too many lives to count. However, his cool all but vanishes when classy and competent agent 99 (Angie Ross) arrives on the scene. Bumbling and awkward, this world-class spy turns into a besotted schoolboy, while Agent 99 tosses her hair with polished poise. Nonetheless, they make a great team: in one humorous moment, the dynamic duo is tied back-to-back and must coordinate their desperate hopping to move around.

Countering our heroes is Gino Torquato's diabolical Mr. Big. The quintessential crime boss, Mr. Big (who is really quite small), offers to not incinerate the planet for the modest sum of 100 million dollars. Sitting in a massive chair designed to emphasize the illusion of his pint-sized stature, he swings his feet, twiddles his fingers, and cackles with glee. Grinning maniacally, he mutters with a squeaky voice about his plan's success.

The diverse and detailed sets ground the show. CONTROL headquarters' walls are adorned with clocks displaying the times from Moscow to Tokyo; an old-fashioned evidence board with string trails connecting photographs sits below the timepieces. Sundry colorful paper lanterns hang in the Fortune Cookie Club, and a giant golden gong clangs loudly in the corner. The hotel room uses colorful panels as walls and includes mid-century modern furniture keeping with the distinctive 1960s aesthetic.

Props by Jenna Doherty are eccentric and entertaining. Smart's shoe doubles as a portable phone, complete with an extendable antenna. The Inthermo is a miniaturized version of a weapon of mass destruction. Shaped like a streamlined, futuristic cannon, a toy gun that fires light beams is hidden inside to mimic the device's pyrotechnic properties.

With many a dramatic "dun, dun, DUN", Uni's production of "Get Smart" shines through highly committed actors and adroitly navigated technical challenges to present a cohesive and visually appealing show.

Chloe Grubb
Santa Margarita Catholic
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

University's ‘Get Smart' Gets Plenty of Laughs
written by Chloe Grubb, a senior at Santa Margarita Catholic High School

With booming spy theme music, plenty of catfights, and outrageous spy technology, University High School's production of ‘Get Smart' presents a hilarious rendition of the classic 1960's detective genre.

Maxwell Smart (Davide Costa) is hysterical as the all-so-important, yet achingly clumsy lead spy. As he "seamlessly" blends into his environment, Costa tugs on his collar and awkwardly leans on a nearby table, clearly not the casual student he claims to be.

Hunching his shoulders as he nervously paces about, Chief (Neiman Araque) presents a refreshing contrast to the classic "tough-guy" leader. Speaking in a nasally voice while meticulously attending his fish, Araque embodies a strong comedic presence with his quick quips and witty puns.

Shuffling across the stage in unison, the Wong ensemble (Audrey Moore, Lauren Lee, and Kaylie Kabota) makes their mark as they lie, cheat, and steal with hilarious, deadpan faces. As Maxwell Smart and his partner plan a comprehensive escape, the Wongs listen in, positioning themselves with ready weapons as they pass a couple of unimpressed faces to the audience.

The set design by Taylor Han, Hikari Harrison, Emi Nishida, and Uni Technical Theatre exudes creativity and functionality. Following the production's midcentury modern Americana theme, the team contrasts the cement, grayscale office of the government organization with the colorful, asymmetrical designs of a local hotel. This design excellently portrays the multiple trends of the 1960's while using wheeled platforms and flown flats to seamlessly transition sets between scenes.

The lighting design by Deja Allen, Clarisse Woo, Alyssa Eng and the Uni Technical Theatre clearly evokes the classic 1960's spy genre. Using a series of narrowing, circular lights the team captures the classic James Bond transitions, heightening tension as they focus on the leading spy and his dramatic quest.

The properties team (Jenna Doherty, Camden Krause, and Uni Technical Theatre) underscores the comedic features of the production, employing a group of outrageous spy technology to accomplish this task. Some of the spy technology includes Smart's shoe-phone and mirror cufflinks which he and his counterparts use to aid their covert actions rather impractically. The sheer bulkiness and volume of the spy tech lends itself to comedy, again stressing how unrealistic the spy genre truly is.

University High School's production of ‘Get Smart' is truly memorable in its thoughtful design and comical characters.

Jamie Auer
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Gadgets, Gizmos, and Gags at University's "Get Smart"
written by Jamie Auer, a senior at San Juan Hills High School

Parodying secret agent classics, Uni's "Get Smart" follows the mission of Agent Maxwell Smart of CONTROL, a top-secret government agency, as he faces off against the evil forces of the KAOS organization to protect an ultra-powerful laser and a Scandinavian princess in peril.

As the golden boy of CONTROL, Davide Costa struts about the stage as the infamous Agent 86, Maxwell Smart. Costa embodies the archetypal secret agent through his smooth aura and grandiose accent.

While captured by KAOS agents, Smart and his counterpart, Agent 99 played by Angie Ross, hilariously twist and turn to maneuver across the stage while tied facing away from each other.

Fiery and seething, Neiman Araque embodies the ranting and raving nature of Chief when he leaps atop the chair to tower over Agent Smart (Davide Costa) after he abandons his post in a hysterical showdown, leaning closer and closer with his nostrils flaring.

Gino Torquato portrays the sinister head of the International Organization of Evil - KAOS - maniacally laughing and wiggling his legs with glee when he obtains the power of mass destruction from our hero.

Audrey Moore, Lauren Lee, and Kaylie Kabota masterfully embody the conspiring henchwomen of Mr. Big, capturing 86 and 99. Disguised as harmless maids, the Wong agents audibly scoot across the stage to great comedic effect.

Hilariously contrasting the small stature of Mr. Big, set designers Taylor Han, Hikari Harrison, and Emi Nashida utilize an outrageously oversized throne for the pint-sized evil mastermind. They represent the aesthetic of the late 60s through innovative geometric structures and striking colors, successfully differentiating numerous locations.

The innovation of a shattering fishbowl, a steel-melting "Inthermo" laserbeam and human-size set pieces is all thanks to the creativity of Property and Special Effects designer Jenna Doherty. In order to emulate a bullet shattering a glass bowl, Doherty connected the individual "shards" and swiftly pulled them apart in time with the action onstage. During a scientific test onstage, Professor Dante (Eren Batum) launches a laser beam "melting" steel balls through the help of a real chemical reaction and flashing lights.

Uni High School revives and perfects the satire and slapstick of secret agent spoofs through a brilliant collaboration of performance and technical elements.