The masterfully crafted acts of “All in the Timing” were well received by the crowd in the Knox Center Saturday afternoon, demonstrating the play’s lasting relevance two decades since its creation.

Contra Costa College’s drama department presented eight lively and comedic acts that highlighted the humor that can arise solely from the use of language in a play. The minimal use of props during the scenes did not hinder the actors’ ability to entertain.

With the use of strong facial expressions, clear speech and movement across the stage, the actors were able to grab the audiences attention and keep it throughout the acts.

In the act “Words, Words, Words,” three chimpanzees wearing tutus named after famous authors are forced into attempting to write the play “Hamlet.” Sarah Piane, Sadara Welch and Kaitlyn McCoy played the silly simians rewriting Shakespeare.

The chemistry between the three actors was exceptional, as they did not skip a beat engaging in their banter about literary works and English vernacular.

The three chimps laughed over the different connections of words that they would type onto their typewriters and made fun of the authors they portrayed.

One could see from the variety of acts in the play that the actors were very comfort- able with one another, as well as in each character they would portray.

Actor Welch stood out for her ability to quickly move from one act to another while playing completely different roles. She played Jonathan Swift, Leon Trotsky and the safari man on television during the acts “Words, Words, Words,” “Variations on the Death of Trotsky” and “Time Flies,” respectively.

Her robust and captivating stage presence was felt as she yelled for “revenge” on her unjust captor during the act “Words, Words, Words.” Welch is certainly an actor to watch for in upcoming performances at the Knox Center.

The other actors were also able to quickly move from one act to another, transitioning from markedly different characters with ease.

The overall humor of the different acts was broad and easy to digest — one does not need to be a great intellectual or have a huge grasp on literary history to find the acts hilarious.

The act “Sure Thing” was, as its name suggests, an instant hit with the crowd. The romantic romp showed two strangers replay their first meeting in a café over and over again. Every time the eager suitor’s words failed him, a bell would ding and the scene would begin anew.

Derian Espinoza played the man and Irena Miles played the subject of his affection, the young woman sitting alone at the café table reading a book.

After various comedic tweaks that refresh his approach, the two finally connect romantically through language.

The overall idea of not saying the right thing at the right time was well received by the crowd and the applause truly boomed following that particular act.

American playwright David Ives wrote the original screenplay for the comedic acts in 1987 as a collection of short plays. Director and adjunct drama professor Angelina LaBarre’s rendition of the mul- tiple acts sticks closely to the original screenplay.

Throughout the collection of the eight comedic acts, seven actors portrayed a plethora of characters.

The multiple one-act comedies focused on how the individuals communicated with one another while using
a limited physical set and placing emphasis on the actors and personifying the various characters.

Approximately 50 people were in attendance at Saturday’s 2 p.m. showing in the Knox Center. The showing of the performance ran from March 11 through Saturday.

The drama department’s upcoming performance “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Kelly Ground will run from April 29-May 2 in the Knox Center.