64 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • MARCH 1, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
buzz
Titan’s “Medea” at Queens Theatre
Film about unique Bayside dance
organization set to premiere at local festival
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
A group of charismatic kids and teens
living with disabilities who are part of a
Bayside dance group are the focus of a
moving new documentary.
Local nonprofi t Dancing Dreams takes
center stage in “Perfectly Normal for Me,” a
fi lm that delves into the lives of four young
dancers. Th e Bayside-based dance organization’s
mission is to help children and
teens with physical or medical disabilities
reach their fullest potential by off ering an
inclusive and creative environment.
Directed by award-winning fi lmmaker
Catherine Tambini, the fi lm delves
into the lives of dancers Alexandria, Jake,
Caitlin and Veronica. Each child lives
with a physical disability and participates
in the organization’s dance program.
“I just want to be a normal kid. Th at’s
my lifetime goal,” said Jake Ehrlich, age 8,
during the fi lm.
Viewers get an intimate look into the
lives of each child and their family, who
deal with their own unique, everyday
challenges while advancing toward a
common goal and the fi lm’s fi nal scene:
the annual Dancing Dreams showcase.
Veronica Siaba, 15, who Tambini called
“wise way beyond her years,” speaks in
the fi lm about her relationship with her
friend, Becky. Initially, Becky was nervous
to approach her, Siaba explains, but
the pair are now inseparable.
“We became best friends and it meant a
lot, because it shows that she saw, she got
to know me, and that she understood that
my life is not the same as hers, but it’s perfectly
normal for me,” Siaba said.
Viewers get a particularly intimate look
into the life of Alexandria Vega, her fraternal
twin sister Maya, and her parents.
Alexandria was born prematurely and has
cerebral palsy. Th e fi lm opens with the
family waking up on Th ree Kings’ Day to
open presents.
Caitlin McConnell, who is also a twin,
is “really comfortable with who she is,”
Tambini noted. Th e outspoken 12-yearold
is shown in the fi lm fearlessly navigating
a ski run. Her sister, Allison, is also a
volunteer with Dancing Dreams.
“She’s not as delicate as you think she
is,” Caitlin’s father Steve told a Dancing
Dreams volunteer.
Tambini was fi rst approached by the
fi lm’s producer, Elizabeth Hemmerdinger,
about the organization. Th e duo decided to
create a documentary and began fi lming in
the fall of 2014. It was the director’s fi rst time
getting to know the town of Bayside.
“I found a really warm and welcoming
community there,” Tambini said. “Th e
kids come from everywhere to Dancing
Dreams. Getting to know Bayside was
really kind of fun. Even though it was
part of New York City, it felt like its own
unique place.”
Th e fi lm will be shown as part of the
ReelAbilities Film Festival, which runs from
March 8-14. On Sunday, March 11, it will
be screened at 10 a.m. at the Central Queens
Y, located at 67-09 108th St. in Forest Hills.
Th e documentary will also be shown in
Manhattan and Long Island. Visit www.
reelabilities.org/newyork for the full list.
Tambini said she hopes the fi lm will
“begin to change the conversation on disability.”
“I was like a lot people: before I started
making this fi lm, I really didn’t think about
people with disabilities,” Tambini said. “Th is
taught me that these people are incredible
and there’s so much humanity in each
and every one of us. Th ey were just surprising
me all the time with how kind they are.”
To learn more about the organization,
visit www.dancingdreams.org.
A woman scorned! To what depths of
vengeance will she fall? Or rise? In ancient
Greece, the brutal answer is uncovered in
Euripedes’“Medea”. Th e treachery displayed
on all sides has disconcerting
modern overtones.
On opening night, every seat fi nds a
willing theatregoer. For those familiar
with this violent tragedy, the anticipation
is profound. Directed and
adapted by Titan Th eatre Company’s
Lenny Banovez, (translated by Nefeli
Vasiliadou) this extremely intense
drama is a starring vehicle for outstanding
actor Leah Gabriel. She plays the
wronged wife of a ruthless king. Th e
systematically murderous revenge she
perpetrates before our eyes leaves the
audience gasping. As the mythological
Medea, she is part goddess, part
sorceress. Her single minded anguish
and anger are palpable. Clearly, Ms.
Gabriel’s penetrating performance is
impossible to resist. Is her character
criminally insane or is there something
even darker that touches today’s
headlines?
Minimal scenery with some remarkable
lighting (Alan Piotrowicz, Katy
Atwell), projection (Chris Kateff ) and
sound (Jessica McIlquham) are haunting,
distressing and powerful (Kris
Murphy-production stage manager).
Th e well-craft ed costumes (Leah Smith,
Analiese Puzon) from that mythical
era enhance the words and actions of
the players. Once heroic adventurer
Jason of the famed Argonauts (Tristan
Colton) is now an unsympathetic ruler
whose arrogance will become his undoing.
Well played!
Th e clear lines between good intentions
and evil manipulations become
extraordinarily blurred. Princess Glauce
(Lindsay Nance) and Queen Creon
(Molly Th omas) are targeted for ultimate
retribution. Do they deserve their
heartlessly infl icted fate? Queen Aegeus
(well played by Alyssa Van Gorder) is
also duped by Medea’s false sincerity.
Th e parade of innocent bystanders
include the nanny (Rachel Schmeling)
and the nurse (Ellen Fiske). Are they,
perhaps, our collective conscience?
Th ey understand what is happening but
can do little to stop it. Meanwhile, Ella
Taylor and Silas Wade as smiling and
loving children are the absolute and
most innocent victims. Th eir doom
send chills through the audience.
Th e Titan Th eatre Company is the
resident troupe for Queens Th eatre at
Flushing Meadows/Corona Park. Th ey
perform in the venue’s intimate lower
theater. In this production, with every
seat just feet from the actors, Euripedes’
ancient tragedy’s message is unmistakably
intensifi ed and fi ercely thought
provoking.
For information on this and
future events, surf to www.
TITANTh eatreCompany.com or contact
their box offi ce at (347) 738-5602. As
always, save me a seat on the aisle.
A VIEW FROM
THE CLIFF
BY CLIFF KASDEN
Photo courtesy of Catherine Tambini
A still from “Perfectly Normal for Me”