The West Virginia University School of Theatre and Dance LAB Theatre program has two very different offerings coming up – “An Evening of Short Plays” by Christopher Durang in 239A Actors’ Studio and “Mess” by Caroline Horton in the Vivian Davis Michael Laboratory Theatre. They are being performed concurrently on Feb. 27-28 at 7:30 p.m. and March 1 at 2 p.m. Both shows are located in the Creative Arts Center.
“An Evening of Short Plays” is full of a delightful sampling of satirical favorite Christopher Durang’s musings on life through the lens of religious, conservative, and bizarre characters explaining the “proper way” to live. Durang’s comedic monologues and short scenes are full of crackling wit and timeless observations on the abnormality found in certain “societal norms.”
Durang’s work, especially popular in the 1980s, usually concerns pressing societal issues of the day, all brought to the surface through parody. His other works include “Beyond Therapy,” “Baby with the Bathwater” and his 2013 Tony-Award winning hit, “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.”
“Short Plays” will be in 239A, the Actors’ Studio (SLAB), and is directed by third-year Master of Fine Arts acting student Landon Green, who will also be appearing in the main stage production of “Mother Courage and Her Children” opening in mid-April. Theater students Kayla Lutz and Anna Ventura will play multiple roles.
“The first play I ever directed was a play by Christopher Durang, so his plays have a special place in my heart,” said James Knipple, resident artist and director of the LAB Theatre Program. “They’re funny, they’re weird, they’re poignant, and we’re brimming with anticipation for these short plays by one of America’s foremost dramatists.”
Developed with the help of experts from King’s College Institute of Psychiatry, “Mess” explores the jarring truth of living with anorexia, and confronts the stigma of mental illness with compassion and approachable theatricality. The show will be performing in tandem with “Short Plays” in the VDM (234A). “Mess” concerns Josephine who is putting on a play with the help of Boris and Sistahl. Unflinchingly they confront big issues (and extremely tiny ones) and today they will tackle a particularly thin elephant in the room – obsession, addiction, and not wanting to get out of bed.
Caroline Horton is an actor, writer, dramaturg, director and associate artist at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in England. Her latest project is a commission for the New Vic Theatre in London.
“Mess” is directed by Bachelor of Fine Arts design/tech student Jackie Merrill and the cast features theater students Dylan Lack, Cameron Cuthill and Evan Upole.
“One of the strengths of the LAB season is the opportunity to present plays that are edgier and more daring than we get to on the Main Stage,” said Knipple. ”’Mess’ is a great example of this. It premiered at one of the world’s biggest fringe festivals and really is a powerful and fun play with an important message. We actually had to get special permission from the playwright to be able to do this production, so this is going to be one people won’t want to miss.”
Admission is free for “An Evening of Short Plays” and “Mess” but seating is limited in both venues. Attendance forms for classes will be made available. The shows contain strong language.
For more information on “An Evening of Short Plays” and “Mess,” please visit theatre.wvu.edu, call 304-293-2020, or email theatre@mail.wvu.edu.
-WVU-
Sf/2/25/15
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