'Rhinoceros' stampedes on stage

Have you "herd?" Quadramics hopes that you have. Their fall production of Eugene Ionesco's Rhinoceros stampeded on stage last night at the Annenberg Center's Harold Prince Theater. Rhinoceros tells the story of Berenger, a publishing clerk, who watches as his neighbors transform one by one into rhinoceroses. The play is an allegory for the struggle to maintain individuality in a world where it is best to follow the herd. The Quadramics show does not take place in post-World War II France as Ionesco intended, but was transplanted to modern-day Philadelphia -- where WaWa graces the backdrop -- by Director Gideon Evans. As a rule, the show is not composed of individual performances which steal the limelight, but finds its strength in the team effort. Brian Turnbaugh and David Lavine, however, each shine through in different instances. College freshman Turnbaugh's portrayal of Jean, in which he turns into a rhinoceros in a fit of sweat, grunts and roars, is one such performance. And College senior Lavine who plays Berenger, the lead, is powerful at all times, but at his best in his closing monologue where he pledges to withstand capitulation. The collective cast is the true force behind the show, according to College junior Marcie Levine, who plays a waitress. "The great thing about the show is that it is an ensemble," she said. "Each character adds so much to the show with his/her unique personality." In the first act, when almost the entire cast is on stage, this interaction is apparent. At the first sighting of a rhinoceros, the cast jumps up and down in rhythm to create a ground-shaking sensation. This cooperation also comes out when cast members, each involved in his or her own scene or activity, are able to add a dimension of collectivity to the opening scene. The music, together with the scenery, produces a powerful feeling for the audience, as they are able to look at a familiar place like WaWa and hear the realistic groans and trumpeting of rhinoceroses. Although the show speaks of the ability to withstand conformity, the cast truly shows its ability to conform in a performance that the audience appreciated and enjoyed. Rhinoceros will be performed tonight through Saturday. Tickets are on sale on Locust Walk.