Most acts that come to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), stop in for a day or two, do their show, pack up and off they go.  That’s not enough for Drew “the Dramatic Fool” Richardson, he wants to really put on a spectacle.

Despite his show being on Saturday, November 19, Drew the Dramatic Fool has been in the area for a week now.  Since Monday, the silent comedian/magician/absurdist has met with students who share a love for theater from South Orange and Maplewood for a crash course in silent movie making.  The end goal is to create a silent movie, starring the students, to show at Drew’s performance on Saturday.

It’s a week long process to make the movie.  Monday is spent watching silent movies; Tuesday is spent learning about the different characteristics of the performers.  Once that is down, Drew and the students come up with a script for a silent movie.  On Wednesday, the group rehearses and then starts filming, which lasts until Friday.  Then the movie is edited and the world premiere of the movie is shown at Drew’s performance.

“I think this week residency thing is better for me and the community, where I can actually do stuff in the community and connect with audiences in a different way,” said Drew.  “Plus I get to know the area and my performance has a different level to it than if I came in and performed the next day.”

Drew helps the students figure out a script for their movie based on their surroundings.  In this particular film, the students filmed in the Loft at SOPAC, which had tables set up with tablecloths.  This gave them the idea to set the movie in a restaurant.  A student had a banana costume which came in handy for the plot and one student even had coat hangers.  Confused?  To see how they mix it all into a movie, a ticket to Drew’s show on Saturday is required.

Now this is just a part of the overall Drew the Dramatic Fool experience.  The actual show on Saturday is called Drew on First.  It’s a one-man variety show with juggling, magic tricks, slapstick comedy and mixed up cue cards.  The preview of the show is “The signs introducing each act get dropped and shuffled, and so does the show, the performer, and time itself.”

“It’s a really mixed up show,” said Drew.   I find props that are meant for one act in another place; my grand finale is first.”

The show takes on a “whodunit” type of plot.  Drew must solve problems on his own that arise during his show.

“I take premises of “what’s the worst that can happen” and then I have to solve the problem,” said Drew.  “You find juggling balls, but don’t know how to juggle, what do you do?”

Well the answer of what Drew does can be found this Saturday, November 19 at SOPAC.  The show starts at 11 a.m. and tickets are available online on the SOPAC website or by phone by calling (973) 313-ARTS (2787).  In addition, the box office is located in the main lobby Monday-Saturday 12-6 p.m.