Winning script portrays conflicts between tradition, modern culture (01/21/96)

Winning script portrays conflicts between tradition, modern culture

by Svitlana Kochman

CHICAGO - For many Ukrainian Americans, "Old World" values and traditions often conflict with contemporary "Western" culture. Oryna Hrushetsky Schiffman, who was raised by Ukrainian parents in Chicago, playfully explores this phenomenon with humor and honesty in a stage version of her competition-winning screenplay, "Moon Tea and Love Biscuits."

Ms. Hrushetsky-Schiffman's script was chosen as one of four finalists from entries submitted throughout the Midwest in the annual "From Script to Screen" contest, sponsored and produced by Women in Film, a national organization of film and video industry professionals.

From the onset of the play, Zina Harbuzenko (played with buoyant physicality by Dana Eskelson) struggles to unite her conflicting worlds, and dispel her curse of insomnia. Although an aspiring law student, Zina cannot repress her passionate artistry as a photographer. Her love life also is polarized between her practical, "apple pie" American boyfriend, Norman (Darren Kennedy), and the poetic, magically romantic Roman (Matt Socia), a Ukrainian rock star Lothario.

Disillusioned with Norman, Zina naively falls for Roman at a fund-raising concert for the Children of Chornobyl, hilariously speechless in her lust at first sight. Nevertheless, Roman is charming enough to convince us he can seduce women wherever his patriotic musical tour takes him. Unfortunately, Zina ends up as just another souvenir, forced to discover her true calling with the mystical guidance of a baba (traditional Ukrainian faith healer).

To enhance the stage version of the script, a visually dramatic slide show, synchronized with voice-overs and original music, portrays the "facial commentaries" of Zina's family and friends, and striking images of Ukraine's 1991 independence referendum.

"Moon Tea and Love Biscuits" is currently being developed as a feature film by Chicago producer Jeff Marpe of Line 9 Productions, and Oleh Korotenko of Kyiv's Dynapris Films. For more information call Mr. Marpe, (312) 942-1446.

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