Arts. Have an idea for a story or review? Contact the editor at arts@theotherpress.ca ‘Top Girls aren t always on top Director Claire Fogal talks ‘Top Girls’ By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor ou know we're nearing the final weeks of the semester when Douglas College theatre productions get rolling. Nothing takes away the stresses of life better than some entertainment you can lose yourself in, and Douglas’ theatre performances have always fit the bill perfectly. The first of this semester’s plays is the Caryl Churchill-penned Top Girls, premiering this Friday in the Douglas College Studio Theatre. Top Girls is directed by Claire Fogal, and despite the craziness of final week preparations, Fogal took the time to talk with us about the upcoming show. “Two of my long-time colleagues have directed here at Douglas College a lot over the past few years,” Fogal said. “I’ve been to see all their productions, and when Thrasso Petras [director of last fall’s Dangerous Corner] had to be away this term, my colleagues suggested me. “It’s been a very rich and rewarding experience, directing here at Douglas. The entire team is fantastic: the actors, designers, technicians, crew—everyone is very committed to bringing the play to the highest level of fruition possible.” Threes the lop three most anticipated games of March By Steven Cayer, Contributor hristmas has come early for video gamers. Throughout this month, three big games will be coming out: Tomb Raider, God of War: Ascension, and Bioshock: Infinite. In the next few weeks, I will be doing a review of each game, but in the meantime, let’s go over just why there is so much to be excited for. The first game is the highly anticipated series reboot, Tomb 6 Endearingly humble about her position in the grand scheme of things, Fogal opened up a bit more when it came time to talk about her selection of Top Girls. “Top Girls was one of the plays on the table when I signed on; the department liked it because it has so many great roles for women, and this year’s cohort is predominantly female. I was hoping Allan [Lysell, the Douglas theatre co-ordinator] would let me go ahead and do it because Caryl Churchill is one of my favourite playwrights. I’ve worked on various scenes over the years, but never had the chance to sink my teeth into the whole play. So when we decided to produce it, I was extremely excited!” To elaborate, Top Girls tells the story of Marlene (portrayed by Megan Somerville), a career- driven woman who has finally returned to her family. Soon after, Marline begins dreaming of some of history and art’s most influential women, and in her dreams, discovers all her choices in life may not have been the best ones. “The whole first scene is a dinner party with women from various eras meeting to celebrate the main character’s promotion at work. Pope Joan, who was thought to have been Pope in the ninth century (disguised as aman), and Dull Gret (from a painting by Brueghel in which a peasant woman leads her neighbouring housewives to battle the devils in Hell) are just two of these fascinating characters. Instead of staging this scene as an actual dinner party as is often done, we are treating it as a dream. This liberates us to have a lot of fun with the staging.” Getting lost in entertainment is one thing, but actively following along as a work unfolds requires parts of ourselves we may not have anticipated using. With that in mind, Fogal closes out the interview with afew suggestions for viewers to consider while they watch the show. “Though many elements of Top Girls are tragic, I don’t find the play depressing, but actually wildly enlivening. I believe the characters are not just falling apart, but breaking open as they realize how they have internalized oppression, and begin to discover the roots of their own freedom and power. Deepak Chopra says, ‘All great changes are preceded by chaos’ [as promoted in ads for the play]. With Top Girls, I feel Churchill aims to give us the brutal birth pangs that could lead to a whole new level of human society. Top Girls has been hailed as ‘the best British play ever from a woman dramatist’ (The Guardian, 1983).” Friday night’s show is already sold out, but tickets are still available for the many performances happening from Saturday onwards. Tickets for students are only $8, so get them while you can! lucky charm Raider, arriving on March5 and published by Square Enix. I have been waiting for a good Tomb Raider game and this is shaping up to be the best one yet. The game tells the origin story of tomb raider Lara Croft, taking us with her as she goes through her very first journey. While traveling by sea, Croft's ship gets capsized on an isolated tropical island somewhere in the Dragon’s Triangle, leaving her to fend for herself—for the first time in her life. The gameplay of Tomb Raider involves hunting, exploring, searching for other survivors, and, most likely, raiding tombs. While I’m looking forward to the side missions, I have also heard that the game will feature online multiplayer. I’m always sceptical when it comes to multiplayer, as I feel it takes away a certain something from the experience of the single-player campaign. Regardless, it looks to be a very fun game, and however you play Tomb Raider--as Square Enix puts it—“a survivor is born.” If by chance IJ get Tomb Raider done fast enough, I’m definitely going to get Santa Monica Studio’s God of War: Ascension right after, which is expecting a March 12 release date. This game will also be an origin story, though featuring Kratos, former servant of Ares and ‘God of war.’ Ascension takes place 10 years before the original God of War game, re- telling the gruesome story of how Kratos tried to sever his ties TOP cll ee ee ee “All great changes are preceded by chaos.” eee a els gs) eM Bate rite] by Bryan Kennay lege Studio Theatre ae ue de a ee ee Top Girls | Photo courtesy www.douglas.bc.ca with Ares. Like its six predecessors, Ascension will definitely include a combo-combat fighting style. You'll be able to pick between four deities (or classes), each with their own combat moves and powers: Ares, Hades, Zeus, or Poseidon. One thing that’s different this time around— much like with Tomb Raider—is that Ascension will have an online multiplayer mode as well. Our last game comes out on March 26, and is one | can hardly wait for, Bzoshock: Infinite. Set during 1912, aman named Booker DeWitt is hired by an unknown proprietor for a search and rescue operation to find prisoner Elizabeth, who has been stuck on the floating island of Columbia for 12 years. Developers Irrational Games’ and 2K Marin’s portrayal of Columbia feels like a breath of fresh air compared to claustrophobic, previously underwater environment of Rapture, and also offers ample opportunity to experiment with our new setting. With that, you have three amazing-looking games to cleanse your palate in the month of March. Rather than worry about whether they'll be good or not, I prefer to stay positive and remain excited. Who knows? These could end up being the best games of their respective series... hopefully.