By Vincent PAGE

Crescenta Valley High School’s Theatre Arts Program presents “You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me,” a guest directed show written and directed by Garry Kluger. The show is a collection of seven independent scenes, each opening with an actor stating in disbelief, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Each scene examines conflicts – between roommates, couples, interviewer and interviewee, and sisters. During performances last weekend audiences invested in physical, mental, and emotional battles during each performance, with each scene showing new and complex relationships.

The first scene featured five college roommates, two of whom just spent a night out, who come home to find their roommates sleeping in a mess of a living room and a pig in their bathtub. The argument that ensues could be compared to parents trying to teach their toddler triplets why cleaning up and food, other than chips, are both important.

Two scenes focus on the two most important times of a romantic relationship, the proposal and saying “I do.” Neither are easy for the characters in this show, as both times the potential grooms seem to be too nervous to say the four words that can change his life and the two to make it official. The two potential brides handle their situations in opposite ways, one in a fit of rage and the other by toying with her significant other with a series of wisecracks and laughter.

The most complex and entertaining scene is simply titled “The Fights.” This features two couples, one an author and a Marilyn Monroe wannabe, and the other two executives. Fights occur between each couple with each resorting to extremely different paths in terms of maturity.

This is Kluger’s fourth show at CVHS and there is a reason he said he keeps coming back: the actors. He said there is one distinct difference working with students rather than professionals.

“Energy. Energy is never a problem with these kids,” Kluger said. “Of course it’s hard because you’ll have one writing a personal statement and one looking for a prom dress, but for them this is a release from their stressful everyday lives, not a job.”

There is still time to catch “You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me.” Three performances remain including tonight, Thursday, and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Friday at 4 p.m. All shows are performed in CVHS’ Underground Theater, 2900 Community Ave. in La Crescenta. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students.

  Vincent PAGE