Tonight, with no dialogue or sound, the current fine arts graduate student acting ensemble will take the stage to bring to life the crazy mind of a writer.
The seven actors will continue their weeklong showing of “365” at 7:30 p.m. in the basement of Hatcher Hall.
Actress Leigh-Erin Balmer, fine arts graduate student, said the show is a great contrast to the average student’s perception of a typical drama.
Director Christine Menzies said “365” is a string of seven short plays written by Suzan Lori Parks during her one-year writing frenzy. Menzies said Parks wrote one short play per day for an entire year.
Menzies also said the play’s lack of sound creates a theatrical mood relying on interpretive movements.
She said the play expresses the stream of a writer’s thoughts during the creation of a playwright.
“It shows the tribulations of a writer,” she said.
She also said students will be able to relate.
Balmer said the show is a short hour packed with fun, hyper activity.
“It’s short, funny and hits you with a bang,” she said.
Menzies agreed the humor is a fun aspect to the abstract variety of the plays. She said three of the plays are about mourning and death, which lead up to an apocalyptic event.
“Some of the plays are contemplative, and some are funny,” she said.
Actor Scott Woltz, fine arts graduate student, said the show features quick and challenging scene shifts, which add to the chaos of the writer’s thought process.
Woltz also said each actor plays three to four different characters. He said the surplus of roles relates to the play’s many moods.
“[The play] goes from clowning to dramatic moments of sincerity,” he said.
Menzies said she taught the cast “classic European clown technique” in order to prepare them for the comedic roles, which range from a ballerina to John Ritter.
“It’s a ridiculous circus show,” Balmer said. “It keeps you on your toes.”
Menzies said she is pleased to see the audience’s positive reaction to the performance. She said one viewer said, despite his previous notions of Parks’ work, he found the play so delightful he fell in love with the writing immediately.
“Some students were rolling in their chairs with laughter,” Menzies said.
Balmer said they expect to see a full house at the final weekend performances.
In addition to tonight’s showing, “365” will run Friday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. with an additional matinee Sunday at 2 p.m.
A donation of $3 is suggested.
—Contact Lindsay Gallmann at [email protected]