The dark, existentialist play "No Exit鈥� by French philosopher, playwright, novelist, activist and literary critic Jean-Paul Sartre leads the spring semester Theatre Department productions at Robsham Theater Arts Center, with performances Jan. 25-28 in the Bonn Studio Theater.
Kylie Fletcher 鈥�18 directs the work, its premise summed up in Satre鈥檚 famous quote, 鈥淗ell is other people.鈥� The play references his ideas about the struggle of being made to see oneself from the perspective of others. Its three main characters are locked together for eternity in a hideous room: bricked-up windows, lights that can never be turned off, no mirrors 鈥� and no exit. They grapple with their limited options to interact within their imprisonment, face each other as they really are, and in turn become reflections of each other.
鈥淣o Exit鈥� is presented by special arrangement with the Societe des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques, Paris.
Two original works by undergraduate student playwrights will be staged in 鈥淣ew Voices 2018,鈥� directed by Professor of Theatre Scott T. Cummings and presented Feb. 15-18 in the Bonn. In 鈥淭he Things We Do,鈥� an existential mystery by Taylor Badoyen 鈥�19, three strangers arrive at an unusual gate and try to figure out what would make them worthy of passing through. Junior Michael Quinn鈥檚 鈥淕et It Together鈥� is set at a holiday house party, where Harold and Mary share an encounter that makes for a night they might forget but can never undo.
Another student-directed play, Diana Son鈥檚 鈥淪top Kiss,鈥� will be performed in the Bonn March 22-25. Directed by senior Taylor Tranfaglia, 鈥淪top Kiss鈥� 鈥� described by Variety as 鈥減oignant and funny鈥� 鈥� centers around Callie and Sara, who meet and unexpectedly fall in love. Their first kiss provokes a violent attack that transforms their lives in a way they could never anticipate. 鈥淪top Kiss鈥� is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, 鈥淧eter and the Starcatcher鈥� 鈥� which will run April 25-29 on the RTAC main stage 鈥� playfully explores the depths of greed and despair, as well as the bonds of friendship, duty and love.
Associate Professor of the Practice of Theatre Luke Jorgensen directs the play, written by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. A grownup prequel to 鈥淧eter Pan,鈥� based on the children鈥檚 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the story concerns a young orphan and his mates who are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by evil King Zarboff. The journey becomes a thrilling adventure when the ship is taken over by pirates whose leader is determined to claim a mysterious trunk and its treasure of a powerful celestial substance in the captain鈥檚 cabin. 鈥淧eter and the Starcatcher鈥� is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Ticket prices (service fee included) for these productions are $17 for adults; $12 for BC students (with valid ID), faculty and staff (one ticket per ID), and seniors. For performance times, information on casts and production teams, and other details viist the .
Rosanne Pellegrini | University Communications