This week on Great Arts at Eastern, Jeff Gentry talks with Anne Beck and Darby Cavanaugh, Raquels Valenzuela, and Alexandra Sena of the upcoming production of: On the Verge.
Anne talks about why On the Verge was chosen for this season's opening play. "This comical fantasy was chosen because it features three wonderful performances— potential performances by actresses I know. I knew that I had three great actresses that I really wanted to showcase. They sing, they dance, they take pictures, they talk to the audience, and we have a fourth actor who is male, and he plays all of the different parts, the male parts. So, I thought that it be a good vehicle." It is a good ensemble piece-" where all of the actors are on stage the whole time. So, it's a real challenge for our actors. So, they get to stretch their skills" during the performance.
Darby Kaitlin Cavanaugh who plays the intrepid explorer Mary, answers the question "Is she (Mary) a feminist for her times?: "-I would definitely say so," Darby states as she explains more about Mary's views of the world around her. "Well first off just because she supports her fellow sisters or joiners and loves them so completely. And she tries really hard not to bring them down, but she has a lot of lines where she doesn't seem so keen on men. She has a line where she says: 'the civilization of Women is to reduce the amount of masculinity in the world.' So probably yes."
Raquel talks about her experiences in this production as she speaks about how the snappy word-play in the script helps draw the audience into the character's mindset and settings they find themselves in. "Oh definitely. Especially with me and Alex, we have a lot of character bickering, and so that sometimes we really are snappy. And it really builds up our characters and shows who Fannie and Alex are." During the play, the audience will learn a lot of slang from 1888 through 1950. Some of it very recognizable while other parts of it consist of words with entirely different meanings. Given the time-traveling nature of the story.
Alex, who plays the character of Alex, points out that they are somewhat alike. "She's definitely someone who is very passionate about what she speaks about. It may not be what she speaks about. It may not be on the same subject. But, I do find that same passion she has and she is definitely willing to look forward to the future and is always willing to like see the beauty. And that's how I feel about it all the time." Alex states about her role as Alex in the production.
Eastern's new technical director is Erin Wegleitner, and her contributions to the production is what makes it so dynamic as it has a multimedia presentation. The film aspects help to bring a real exciting layer to the play, given that throughout the production, there are scenes that are filmed in a classical and old-time style that show up on the screen. This helps set the mood and develop the plot of the story further.
On The Verge (or The Geography of Yearning)
Written by Eric Overmyer
Directed by Anne Beck
ENMU University Theatre Center (UTC)
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 | 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 | 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 | 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 | 2 p.m.
General admission $10 Free admission with valid ENMU Student ID
Senior citizen (60+) admission $7
Active military admission $7
All the great arts at Eastern are found at <enmu.edu/fineartsevents> You can learn more about this program at KENW.org.