Drama troupe entertains Sisters

Giant puppets navigating the streets of downtown Sisters, a man doling bananas on the deck at Depot Deli, and players entertaining crowds at the Village Green were all part of two days of "Risteria Sisters."

The production was put together by Rami El-Aasser, Scott Rognilien and a number of young performers from Sisters on Friday and Saturday, August 20-21.

Motorists and pedestrians were taken by surprise by the appearance of three 12-foot-high puppets marching through town.

The puppets, made by cast members with the help of artists John Simpkins and Terese Thompson, set the stage for three one-act plays performed during the two days.

On Friday at the Depot Deli, patrons witnessed a skit involving two immigrants to America (El-Aasser and Rognilien) and a young woman (Anne Noel) who dreams of becoming a singer. The skit offered a satiric reflection on the theme of getting a foothold in America.

About 50 audience members were treated to one-act plays performed both Friday and Saturday night at the Village Green.

The first, "The Bald Soprano"(she always wears her hair in the same style) by Eugene Ionesco kept the crowd laughing with nonstop, nonsensical dialogue between two married couples, the maid, and the local fire chief.

The show is filled with wacky storytelling, and al-though it appears to not have a clear message at first, eventually it becomes apparent, through exaggeration, that the play is about relationships and communication, including some of the absurd things people find themselves talking about in real life.

The audience was kept giggling throughout as the characters took turns telling outrageous stories, reciting pointless poems, and quoting bizarre proverbs.

The group then picked up and moved over to the Kiwanis shelter for the performance of Dario Fo's "The Virtuous Burglar,"about cheating lovers and a "virtuous"burglar who is caught up in the mess. The burglar, Angelo Tornati, (Rami) is discovered when the owner of the flat, played by Jordan Manchester, returns unexpectedly with his mistress (Megan Benton).

When the owner's wife (Anne Noel) arrives, the burglar is forced to pretend the mistress is his wife.

A profusion of spouses and lovers appear, and the burglar - apparently the only one not having an affair - is forced into pretending to have two wives.

The couples all turn out to be intertwined, convincing each of them that it might be better to stop trying to explain things. Carrie Emrich played Tornati's wife, Maria, Judah Slavkovsky appeared as Antonio, and Jeremy Reuter was Franco, the second burglar.

El-Aasser and Rognilien, who have contributed to the performing arts in Sisters over the past two years, will say goodbye to Sisters this week as they move on to further study of theater.

El-Aasser is headed to New York University to complete a master's degree in cultural studies and performance, while Rognilien is flying to London to study acting.