This coming week, a festival of new plays will be performed at the PepsiCo Theater. Collectively titled “Theatre in the Raw,” the plays were commissioned using money left to Fairfield’s theater department by Lucille Lortel, a theater enthusiast whose interest lied in the production of new theater.
Three playwrights, Dipika Guha, Andrea Vebell, and David Meth were asked to write plays specifically to be performed by Fairfield University students. The purpose of this was not only to enjoy three new plays, but also to teach the process of putting a show together.
“A Brief History of America,” written by Guha and directed by Jesse Jou, follows two characters over a period of many years. Students Joe Plouffe, Kate Hoffman, and Abby Treadwell star in this play. The characters, Robert and Sarah, “search for home and love,” Guha stated.
The title might seem misleading, as the plot really has no connection to “history,” per se, but it fits the story on a metaphorical level. “The play’s title alludes to the notion that a nations’ history is as contained in the domestic lives of individuals as it is in grand national narratives,” Guha said.
“Minerva’s Mirror,” by David L. Meth and directed by Jeff Stanely, and features Ashley Ruggiero, Dakota Trick, Joseph Alibrandi, and Allison Hicks. The play is a drama surrounding four college students who struggle when their secrets are revealed.
“They must confront their friends with private hopes and public disappointments that they didn’t quite expect to be revealed,” Meth said of his play. “Minerva’s Mirror” has an ending that is not at all anticipated by the audience.
“Safeguard,” was written by Andrea Vebell, directed by Jackob Hofmann, and features Owen Corey, Brendan Freeman, Gabrielle Morgan Rodman, and Grace Janiszeweski. “Safeguard” is about three people who have stories they tell themselves to avoid the truth in their lives.
Vebell said of truth: “The truth can be messy, inconvenient and painful. Sometimes it’s just easier to live with a lie.”
The plays themselves are brief because too much detail would spoil the experience of seeing them for the first time. The commissioned plays had a specific process outlined for production. After they were written, stage readings were done, followed by a talkback. The talkback, which occurred in November, was a new experience for many attendants, as well as the actors. The format was very informal, and allowed for an honest critique of the three plays. Brendan Freeman ‘15, an actor in “Safeguard,” said the whole process was educational for him as a theater student.
“I thought the talkback sessions were [really unique experiences] to be part of because it was one of the first times that I was part of such a dynamic process,” Freeman said. “Normally when you do a show, the script stays as it is, but with this process, nothing was static. We were able to have discussions with the playwright about her writing, line alterations, and even character motivations – and in the end, just putting [it] into full production was awesome.”
“Theatre in the Raw” has been a fascinating project for both the actors and the audience. Those involved are interested in seeing how the plays had improved since their readings last semester.
The three plays will be performed at the PepsiCo Theatre on March 1-3 at 8 p.m. There are two additional performances at 2 p.m. on March 3-4.
Tickets are on sale now at the Quick Center box office by phone or in person. For tickets, call 203-254-4010. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $6 for seniors and university staff and $5 for students.
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