As On the Verge continues to have a great run with two stellar casts, I got the privilege to talk to them, as well as the two directors of the show. Get ready for the cast and crew to take you through time, and space.

So, let us introduce the great people that are involved in the show.
Emily: My name is Emily Cannon, and I play Mary Baltimore.
Neshiah: My name is Neshiah Alston, and I play Fanny Cranberry.
Jaden: My name is Jaden Browne, and I play Alex Cafuffle 1.
Giana: My name is Giana Cotto, and I play Alex Cafuffle 2.
Jaiden: My name is Jaiden Morey, and I play Gorge Troll, Grove, and Madame Nhu.
Zoe: My name is Zoe Gonez. I am the President of Casting Hall Productions, and I am also the Assistant director of on The Verge.
Dr. Poynton: My name is Doctor Bella Poynton, and I am the director of On The Verge and I teach courses here in the theater department as well.

So, what exactly is On the Verge?
Dr. Poynton: On The Verge is a fantastic play by Eric Overmeyer. It has been described by Broadway Play Publishing as one of the most imaginative plays of the 20th century. It is this very joyful, almost-sci-fi story about three women explorers starting in 1888.
Zoe: As they trek through all these environments without knowing at first, they start traveling through space and time.
Giana: These women then change according to what time they are going to and learn a lot of life lessons about each other as they are in each other’s company.
Neshiah: It’s definitely a story about overcoming challenges. Whether there’s heartbreak or the women finding their self-confidence, it’s a great experience for everyone no matter how old they are.

Now why should you see the show?
Emily: It’s very comedic. We’ve all had lots of fun in rehearsals, and a lot of people have put a ton of hard work into this show. From the lighting to the set and costume designs.
Giana: Everyone should see it because life makes more sense when you see it in a different perspective.
Emily: It’s also about empowerment, sisterhood, and doing what’s right even if it’s not the easiest thing to do.
Dr. Poynton: I think it’s a unique play in that it is very adventurous. Plots that hinge on adventure are something you find in film and television media, but not so often in plays.
Zoe: It’s definitely the type of show you will definitely enjoy if you’re a history buff, or if you have a calling, listen and surrender to what you ultimately want. You only got one life to live.

So, what are some challenges with the show?
Emily: Speaking for all of us, the vocabulary of the characters and their vernacular was very difficult at first, and we would find ourselves mispronouncing something, and would have to go back to write the phonetic spelling. Now though, we have so many new words in our vocabulary.
Neshiah: The views that Fanny and I have certainly don’t mix so it was hard at first to develop her character, but as we continued to practice, and dissect the script, I honestly began to love and appreciate her as a character, and the world she’s had around her. I think the end goal is truly there once you see the show.
Emily: Then with my character in Mary, I don’t think I would have the strength to make some of the choices she decides on. I’m learning a lot from her by playing her.
Gianna: Alex really reflects what life as an artist is like. So, while that part was easy to relate to, the emotional burden that comes with being an artist was the hardest part to go into. Since when starting off as an actress or an actor, it is hard to put yourself into an ocean of emotion and to be ok with everything that is going on. Though as you’re going along, things become clearer as the answers you are looking for as a person and as an artist are found in the show.
Jaden: Yeah, I definitely agree with what you said. Since I was three, I wanted to do acting. So for me, it was difficult to get into the headspace that I’m deciding to change everything.
Jaiden: The difficulty with my character, specifically Grover, is trying to play someone that is more mature than I am. He is serious, but kind of in that playful way. It’s also kind of hard to try and tell someone bad news, but also hide it.
Dr. Poynton: We have two separate casts so we would be rehearsing a cast one night, and then doing the next night with the other cast. So, the process took a little longer, and was more intense because we want to give people more opportunity to perform.
Zoe: So, this is my second time directing, even if it is as an assistant director. A lesson I learned is being more patient with the actors and watching them make their own choices before giving direction. I think they all have made fantastic choices that I wouldn’t change a thing. They have all shaped this show.

Finally, what does On the Verge mean to you?
Dr. Poynton: I’ve actually loved this play since I was in college myself. I first came across this play when it was in my acting school a year after I graduated. I didn’t get to see it, but I saw I had friends who were in it. When I saw the production photo, there was something about it that struck me as beautiful. Years later when I was getting my PhD I went back to that play because it does have a sci-fi element. My research has to do with sci-fi and performance. I was deeply moved when I came back to the play. The women must keep moving through time to kind of fit, and I have felt like that from time to time. So, I was very drawn to the title back then and again now as I’m a little older.
Zoe: The show will always mean a lot to me because it was my assistant directing debut at Buffalo State. I always wanted to direct even before I came here and chose theater as my major. So being able to actually have the opportunity of assistant directing and sitting next to Bella every single night and having my opinions be heard put into the play and reassured has been a wonderful experience. I’m grateful to have Bella by my side, and I couldn’t imagine doing this with anyone else.
Neshiah: Once I truly got to understand the script, I started to appreciate the show for what it was. Especially with the music and the movements are beautiful. Even if people don’t fully understand it the first time, I think they start to get the idea as everything is pieced together.
Emily: For me personally, I’ve always been more of a musical-inclined person. So this show was an opportunity to break out of that typecast. I have never played a character with that much depth. I’ve always been playing like the funny or ditsy one. So, playing Mary has been such a privilege, and I can’t wait for people to see that I am capable of so much more than I thought I would be. I felt that this show has been a growth in my acting career.
Jaiden: Same for me since I’ve only ever been in musicals, and this is my first-ever play. I think it’s helped flesh out my emotions. With this also being my first show without a mic, I learned how to be louder, and to be more aware of how my voice sounds to other people.
Jaden: I also have only been in musicals. My first play last semester was Medea, which was very different even to this show since that was more serious. I have never been in a comedy so being funny was very weird to me. So, it’s great to see that I’m capable of this style, and maybe I will do more shows like this in the future.
Giana: This show means a lot because with the help of our directors and stage managers, you as an actor become more aware of things around you. Acting with music and acting with just yourself are completely different things. In musicals, you tend to let the music drive your emotion while in a play you need to find those moments. Then you need to figure out how to deal with it afterwards. With this play being an emotion-heavy show, I think it helped me be myself as well as embody the character.
Emily: Yeah, I think I can speak for all of us that we had such an amazing time in this show because of our directors as well as everyone else whose work should be acknowledged. Carol, Erica, Ron, Harry and all of those people mean a lot to have their support along with our friends and families.
Neshiah: It’s been a really good learning experience for how shows like this really do happen and how much hard work pays off in the end for the end result.

Remember to get your tickets for the final shows on Nov 11 at 2:00 PM at the Buffalo State Theater Department. The Future is Now!