"I Got Guns"

Theatre director Daniel Stone is currently in the process of writing his next original play, entitled “I Got Guns”, which will be performed locally and at the San Diego International Fringe Festival in June.

Made up of an ensemble cast of both students and members of the local community, “I Got Guns” will be a Commedia dell’arte, an Italian performance art identified by its use of slapstick humor and improvisation.

“Imagine Bugs Bunny cartoons on stage,” said Stone. “It’s a satirical farce, filled with stock characters wearing masks. It’s very fun.”

Though Commedia dell’arte is known for its embrace of wackiness, Stone is using the technique as a way to tackle a very high profile and serious topic, gun policy in America.

“I’m a true believer that sometimes we have to laugh at some of these things,” said Stone, “Comedy can be a very powerful tool for communicating, while a serious drama about a serious issue can turn people off. If you can make people laugh, then they’ll get it. They’ll understand.”

Stone has cited the films of Mel Brooks, specifically Blazing Saddles, as an example of what type of tone he is hoping to achieve.

“In his films, Mel Brooks is always making fun of racism, he’s making fun of Nazis, and in a very satirical way. He’s taking serious issues and turning them into comedies, which can be even more powerful.”

“I Got Guns” will be produced by Sanctuary Stage, LBCC’s own community engaged theatre headed by both Stone and Tinamarie Ivey. Sanctuary Stage’s previous work has been heavily focused on the representation of micro-communities that exist inside a population. This includes their latest finished production, “Un Carol de Independence”, a story about the lives and experiences of a Latino family living in Independence, Ore.

“’I Got Guns’ will be different. It’s focused on a broader issue of guns, rather than a narrow look at any specific micro-community,” said Stone.

Stone’s inspiration for writing a play on gun policy was the result of the continuous coverage the subject has been receiving recently.

“You just have to turn on the news, or read the paper, and there’s guns. It’s a topical issue.”

“‘I Got Guns’ will be a very dark comedy, and we might offend some people, but were not going to leave anybody out. It won’t be focused on the people who are anti-gun, or people who are pro-gun. We aren't going to be preachy."

"I’m very moderate, I really stay in the middle.”


Dan Stone
San Diego Fringe Festival
"I Got Guns"
Late July
For Information:
dan.stone@linnbenton.edu
541-917-4566

LBCC Board Games Club

the Board Games Club meets every Monday at noon in Mackenzie Hall room 118

For any students interested in some small-scale cardboard conflict, LBCC has its own board game club.

Started last winter by current representatives Ryan Lance and Taylor Megy, the Board Games Club meets every Monday at noon in Mackenzie Hall room 118.  Both Lance and Megy assert that the genesis of the club was a mix of passion for the hobby, and an inspirational level of "Lord of the Rings" geekdom.

As Lance tells it, “Early on, we weren’t sure about opening the club, so I took a bunch of stuff from Aragorn’s motivational speech in "Lord of the Rings" and sent it to Taylor in an email,” proving once and for all that no challenge is too great for the words of Tolkien.

“We just love board games,” said Megy, citing "Settlers of Catan" as one of his preferences, “and we just want our members to have fun.”

The founders have said that they originally created the Board Games Club as a way for LBCC students to get some much-needed relaxation during the more difficult periods of the semester. Sure enough, it has proven to be an excellent stress reliever for its members.

“It’s a really easy way to unwind at school. That’s why I come to club,” said longtime member Rob Lochbaum, “also, there’s snacks, and it’s free.”

Though "Settlers of Catan" and the card game "Bang!" are most frequently played, the club founders are always looking for new and interesting games, and encourage new members to bring along their favorites.

“A big part of this club is trying new things. There are so many new games I have learned about just from coming to board games club,” Lance said.