The Skyliner

Issue date: 10/4/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Ryan Stone/The Skyliner A Murder Well Rehearsed: Daniel Jordan, sophomore theater, and Anna Ruffne, freshman theater/speech, pose as their characters.

Holly Stahl
Staff Writer


The theater department's resident club, Theatron, a consistently creative force on campus, fills this week's evenings with numerous productions. Cast members vary by majors and class in mystery, improvisational and morally enriching shows. Starting showings from Oct. 3 until Oct. 5, One Acts presents "A Murder Well Rehearsed" by John R. Carroll and "Sorry, Wrong Number" by Lucille Fletcher in Turner Chapel at 7 p.m.

"A Murder Well Rehearsed" is a 20 to 25 minute play. Set in a high school preparing for a production, the students discover a dead body on the stage during rehearsal. Only when a strange investigator arrives at the scene is the cast able to figure out who is the murderer.

"[A Murder Well Rehearsed] is a much more light-hearted and fun whodunit than the show following it," said Lydia Campbell, junior theater and director of "A Murder Well Rehearsed."

This production is among others previously directed, produced and organized by students. Peer directing not only encourages students to enhance their skills as actors, but also provides opportunities for upperclassmen to practice leading productions. Although performances that are directed by students do not qualify as cultural events, peer-directed productions are more likely to engage and agree with the sensibilities of an audience as well as the cast.

"[Peer directing] gives actors experience being directed by a peer instead of by faculty or staff. The experience offers more room for input, giving me a chance to be on their level and get them involved. That way, I can ask them how they feel about things in order to make it a collaborative project," said Campbell.

Another peer-directed production is "Sorry, Wrong Number," which is a more serious, macabre piece by Lucille Fletcher. Fletcher intentionally wrote the script for a radio drama lasting 30 minutes. Mrs. Stevenson, the main protagonist in the radio drama, is an elderly invalid who overhears a telephone conversation between two men plotting a murder. Mrs. Stevenson tries her best to uncover the plot and save the targeted victim despite her limited physical ability.
"Sorry, Wrong Number" will be performed Oct. 3 and Oct. 5 following "A Murder Well Rehearsed." Justin Walker, sophomore theater, is directing "Sorry, Wrong Number" and his previous experience in large productions consists of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Charley's Aunt, and Waiting for Godot.

"Fletcher, the author, wanted to write a tale of horror. The play is not graphic by any means, but the unfortunate circumstances that meet Mrs. Stevenson are terrible. The focus of the performance would be placed more on the audible elements of the production rather than the spectacle," said Walker.

After an hour break, a new cast and production called "Work in Progress" starts at 10:30 p.m. in Turner Chapel featuring North Greenville University's first improvisational troupe. The 11 students involved in the group, varying in experience and majors, combine to provide a new chemistry on stage. Since the group's conception a mere month ago, Matthew Martinez, senior theater, led their first presentation at Poetry Night.

Preparations for improvisation include mental exercises and word association games with a prerequisite for sharp, swift wit. Rehearsals are near constant with practices held on most weeknights in a rush to prepare for the group's first official show. Games like Actor's Nightmare, Home Shopping Network, Expando Detracto and Fusillade are some of the titles of games Martinez anticipates enacting and encouraging on stage. Additional information can be found on the official "Work in Progress" web site at http://www.wipimprov.com.

"If the rehearsals are any indicator, the shows are going to be pretty darn funny," said Martinez.

Another production currently underway is "Pooh and Pals," an adaptation of three stories by Shane Saxon, junior theater, from A. A. Milne's books Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner . The three stories tailored for the stage are In Which Eeyore Loses A Tail and Pooh Finds One, In Which Rabbit Has a Busy Day, and We Learn What Christopher Robin Does in the Mornings and In Which Christopher Robin and Pooh Come to an Enchanted Place, and We Leave Them There.

Saxon and his cast of six are currently traveling with the show, making stops at Mountain View Elementary, Armstrong Academy, Morningside Baptist Church in Union county, as well as two performances in Turner Chapel. The performances of "Pooh and Pals" in Turner Chapel are at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 and then again on Saturday, Oct. 21 during Homecoming weekend. Saxon, with an interest in Christian children's theater and ministry, cherishes the moral values found in Milne's work.

"Winnie the Pooh is a good example of morals for children. You can always get something from them," said Saxon.

The jack-of-all-trades mentality is alive and well within the theater department where many actors are costume and set designers, actors, stage managers, lighting and sound technicians and numerous other roles. Despite the stress and demands of their roles, Campbell, Martinez, Saxon and Walker experience a satisfying enrichment beyond their expectations that they intend to benefit from in future endeavors.

"I'm having a wonderful time, the players on the team are very cooperative, and I only feel like a 'teacher' every once in a while. It's like being the leader of recess: you get to pick the games and play the hardest," said Martinez. "Who wouldn't love it?"

Tickets for the mystery doubleheader and "Work in Progress" are $2 each and can be purchased in the Cultural Events office downstairs behind Turner Chapel in room M-8. Tickets for "Pooh and Pals" are free and can be obtained before the show, also presented in Turner Chapel.

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