“Leveling Up” by Deborah Zoe Laufer explores the lives of four twenty-somethings who happen to be addicted to video games: Zander, Ian, Chuck and Jeanie. Three of them are recent college graduates with, arguably, no direction in life. One of them, Jeanie, is finishing up her degree and debates the idea of going to graduate school.
All of the characters share the universal struggle of finding a purpose. It is the ominous void that enacts existential dread in college students and concern in their parents: life after graduation. The world is your oyster while simultaneously your enemy.
“It’s relevant to audiences to see that growing up is scary, but it’s going to be okay,” said Hannah Zdancewiz, a sophomore theater major, who served as the show’s stage manager.
The three males are roommates who litter their basement with the latest gaming consoles, certified nerd decor and endless empty snack wrappers. This is the male’s haven but also a nightmare spawn, more for some than others.
Upon entering the Black Box Theatre, audiences are met with a realistic depiction of a male’s basement in the early 2010s. Patrick Designer, the scenic designer of the show, was able to bring the functioning set to life.
Before the show begins, the actors are present onstage with remote controls in hand as if they are entranced in a video game. This is an artistic choice that is not seen very often in theater. Rarely are audiences greeted with a live performance before the show even starts. While some enjoyed this approach, others did not.
“That inclusion increases the audience’s immersion by suggesting that these characters are real people who have lives outside the plot of the show,” said Tommy Creekmore, a sophomore English major.
“I’ll be honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan,” said Cat Wall, a sophomore English major. “I don’t know. It felt awkward, at least for me.”
“Leveling Up” is Jeremy Cudd’s, an assistant professor of performance at GC, directorial debut. Cudd found himself drawn to the adolescent storyline and began prepping for the show earlier this year.
“I think coming-of-age stories are an important ritual to participate in throughout life but particularly for young adults,” Cudd said. “Adolescence is unsustainable, but we want to stay in it, especially as we feel its comforts slipping away. We often refuse the call to the adventure of growing up and regress into our adolescent games.”
Standout performances include Spencer Roberts, a senior theatre major, who entirely transformed into his character, Chuck.
Roberts was able to hold the stage all on his own and bring an unexpected sense of sympathy to a faulty character.
Mac Chambers, a junior theatre major, put on an exceptional performance as Ian. In under two hours, Chambers was able to deliver a complex character with a rollercoaster of emotions. This was most certainly a theatrical highlight in Chamber’s theatre career.
Adolescence is uncomfortable, awkward and messy. “Leveling Up” and its performers capture this period of time in a comedic yet realistic way.
“No one is alone in the struggles of growing up,” Cudd said. “Failures, humilations, losses and transgressions are unavoidable for us all. Taking personal responsibility and expanding our accountability to others is how we mature to the next level. That’s the noble quest.”
