Sarah Casagrande, Campus Carrier Entertainment Editor
According to Seamus Bourne, visiting lecturer in theater, the six one-act plays that make up “Durang/Durang” are meant to contrast the Berry College Theatre Company’s previous play, “Cabaret,” with comedic, over-the-top antics.
“The one-act plays are picked so that the style of the show fits in with our current production season,” Bourne said. “We wouldn’t have done two tragic plays back to back.”
“Durang/Durang” was created by playwright Christopher Durang and premiered in New York City in November 1994. It is a composition of short plays by Durang, who is known for his absurd comedies. It will be performed by BCTC starting April 14.
“The characters are ridiculous. The stories are ridiculous,” junior Maddie Ludvik, assistant stage manager and PR representative for BCTC, said. “It’s entertaining because you don’t know what in the world is happening.”
A composition of one-act plays is picked every other year by John Countryman, associate professor of theater, unlike most other plays, which are chosen by a student committee.
Also, unlike most of BCTC’s shows, “Durang/Durang” is student directed as part of the Advanced Directing course’s final project. There are a total of 40 students on crew and 12 students in the cast, most of whom play multiple roles.
“There is a lot of collaboration between everyone,” senior Morgan Weigle, assistant production manager and assistant stage manager, said. “Like when [set designer senior Lindsey Purvis] was designing the set and picking paint colors, the costumes couldn’t clash with the paint on the set.”
The show is run by paid workers and volunteers. Jobs such as running the box office or being a carpenter are paid, whereas design crews and even stage managers are unpaid.
“People don’t realize how much of the show is run by students,” Weigle said. “We use real food for dinner scenes, so we even have people that prepare the food every night.”
In order to promote the play, Ludvik was in charge of displays put up in Krannert, promotional posts on Facebook, and even a radio interview with WTSH-FM 107.1.
“It’s kind of different being on the radio versus being on stage,” Ludvik said. “But we create cheat sheets so whoever goes to the interview knows how to answer things appropriately.”
Weigle said she thinks that the show is hilarious, and hopes that the audience will think so too.
“I like how even though you may not fully understand what’s going on 100 percent of the time, they do it in such a funny way,” Weigle said.
“Durang/Durang” will run from April 14-24. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday in the E.H. Young Theatre. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 65 or over and groups of 10 or more.