Monday, March 2, 1998
Faces of races
Actor portrays 8 characters to promote multiculturalism, acceptance
By KATHLEEN DONLEYand CRYSTAL LYNN
Collegian Arts Writers
Eight characters played by only one actress represented thousands
of faces in America this weekend.
The Paul Robeson Cultural Center on Saturday sponsored a one-person
show titled Faces of America that starred Fran de Leon as eight
diverse, real-life characters, ranging from a white son of racist
parents to a female Filipino doctor. The show used the voices
of its characters to confront and dash stereotypes.
De Leon described the show as an empowerment tool. "If people don't take action outside the auditorium, it's just a show," she said.
Fran de Leon performs "The Second Long Walk," one in a series of stories featured in Faces of America, a one-person show dealing with themes of multiculturalism and diversity. The performance was held Saturday afternoon in Schwab Auditorium. (Collegian Photo Montage/Timothy Gyves - click for full size image)
With every step on the stage, de Leon assumed a new identity.
In each role, de Leon stressed that people are not always what
they seem. Faces used well-researched and well-developed characters
in an attempt to break down some common generalizations.
A self-proclaimed "Mexican" character who was born and
raised in Los Angeles disputed one of the negative misconceptions
the show demonstrated -- that all Hispanics are gang members.
All Americans have the same rights and ambitions, regardless of
ethnicity, the character said. "People in the 'hood, we live
for today," he said. "If they're gonna exclude us from
our birthright, we will create our own."
A character from India described how her experience in America
did not meet her expectations of the land of the free. Born a
Brahman, a member of the highest caste in India which is composed
of priests and scholars, the woman told how she was gang-raped
in college. She never thought this type of torture, as she described
it, was possible in America. In America, she said, she believes
there is also a caste system based on race.
De Leon finished the show by challenging Generation X to stand
for acceptance.
Both de Leon and Colin Cox, the show's writer and director, said
they realize the show means more than 75 minutes of entertainment.
Cox said they provide insight with the show, but "it's about
talking to each other."
The most important part of the show is what you take away from
it, some audience members said.
"The importance of the program is not the actual watching,
it's the reaction that you have to it and the way that you change
your behavior," said Michael Kane (senior-psychology).
Lynn Jablonsky, a State College Area School District teacher,
agreed the show had a lesson in awareness.
"I'm a pretty open person already," she said, "but it will make me more aware."
