His first time on stage was without a hitch or mumbled word. Adrian Butler, Southern University freshman, made his theatrical debut as the performance’s main character.
“Any Ordinary Day,” an African-American tragic comedy about a grumpy fisherman who finds the meaning of life, opened in front of a sparse crowd last night in the Union Colonnade Theater.
“This was my first time everything; auditioning, costume design, everything,” said Butler. “This is a career that I would love. I love entertaining other people, and I love to make them laugh.”
Butler’s character, Doris Bass, is an avid fisherman who spends his days fishing with best friend James Thomas. Carlton Williams, an actor from Washington, played the part of Thomas.
Bass’s life is turned upside down when he finds out Thomas has been diagnosed with cancer.
Thais Bass-Moore wrote and directed “Any Ordinary Day.” The play was the first for Moore, who said she was happy with how the production turned out.
“It was rough at the beginning, but I am happy I did it,” Moore said.
      The African and African-American Studies Program presented the play. Leonard Moore, the program’s director, said the play was done to provide students with a forum for their talents.
“We felt there was a market for black theater in Baton Rouge, and this was a way to get us back toward the artistic tradition that has been in the black community for decades,” he said. “We thought there was a tremendous void in Baton Rouge, and we tried to give the students an outlet from Southern and LSU and the general community to add to the civic culture of Baton Rouge.”
Gerard Handy, a chemical engineering senior, said the play provided a good message in a positive tone.
“I like the fact that there was a positive message,” Handy said. “The message was told in a funny manner all the way through, but toward the end it really turned serious.”
Moore said he hopes to bring more plays like this to the University.
“We would like to continue to do them, maybe do one or two a semester depending on turnout,” Moore said. “But we feel if we stay at it for a while and we have different theater companies come in for production, then we will be very successful.”
“Any Ordinary Day” will run Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m in the Colonnade Theater.
Tickets are available at the LSU Union Box Office and cost $5 for students and $10 for adults.