Depression Drama Uplifts SMC
By Annette Andre
Corsair Staff Writer

• Theater in the round actors portray Great Depression survivors, who are hit by hard times, yet forge ahead, striving for a better life using anything they can, including humor, tenderness and determination.

This week, Santa Monica College theater students are turning back the hands of time in their production of Arthur Miller's play, "The American Clock."

The play, directed by SMC Professor Dr. Janie Jones, creates a picture of what it was like to live in America during the Great Depression.

While working on the production, "Dr. Jones has given us every inch of herself that there is to give," said student Desirae Klein, who also has an acting role in "The American Clock."

One reason why Klein chose to audition for Dr. Jones is that "she really cares about educating us as students," she said.

Klein admitted that during the first rehearsal she even cried while watching her fellow acting friends run through their scenes.

"When the make-up and costumes were put on, I saw them as real characters," Klein said, "and it was so amazing."

"Working with the actors has been a lot of fun," said student Daniel Velez, also an actor in the play.

"People really studied the Depression outside of the play in order to understand what it was really about."

"The effects of the stock market's collapse changed the hearts and souls of the American people," Klein said.

The play runs for two hours and covers the years of the Depression.

"At the beginning of the play, there is a sense of optimism," Klein said. "Life is getting better and better every day for the people, until the day that the stock market crashed."

Klein's character, Fanny Margoilies, is forced into marrying off her 13-year-old son to their landlord's daughter in order to be able to pay rent.

"People sold everything back then. Some people even sold their bodies for food," Klein said.

Working on "The American Clock" has touched her heart in a way that she will always remember, Klein said.

"These are the kind of plays that I want to do forever, the kind where people walk out and their hearts have been changed," she said.

Both Klein and Velez said that the entire production is a collection of wonderful and touching scenes.

Klein remembered one scene that stands out as being particularly memorable.

"One of my favorite scenes is when Rose Baum [one of the main characters], who starts off being very put-together, breaks down and cries as she prays to God at the end," Klein said.

"I think what will draw people to the play is that it doesn't just follow one family," said Velez, who plays the roles of Tony, Henry Taylor and Dugan. "It follows the lives of many people during the Depression."

"The American Clock" will show at SMC's new Hangar Stage on the Airport campus Now through Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. ; matinees Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22 and 23 at 1 p.m.