April 7, 2010

Student-directed plays coming soon

MITCHELL — It’s not often that five bucks and a quick trip downtown will land a person in another state. This weekend, trek over to Dakota Wesleyan’s Patten-Wing Theatre for two student-directed productions featuring small-town Texas, “Laundry & Bourbon” and “Lone Star.”

“Laundry & Bourbon” will be directed by Kerrie Roozen, DWU senior English major and theatre minor. “Lone Star” will be directed by Melissa Tafoya, senior theatre major and business minor. The productions will be shown back-to-back beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 9-11. Tickets are $5 for general admission; free to DWU students, staff and faculty and MACT members with I.D. Both productions contain explicit language and are not recommended for children.

In “Laundry & Bourbon,” we visit Elizabeth’s back porch in Maynard, Texas, on a hot summer afternoon. Elizabeth and her friend, Hattie, are whiling away the time folding laundry, watching TV, sipping bourbon and Coke, and gossiping about the many open secrets that are so much a part of small-town life. They are joined by the self-righteous Amy Lee, who can’t resist blurting out that Elizabeth’s husband has been seen around town with another woman. While the ensuing conversation is increasingly edged with bitter humor, from it emerges a sense of Elizabeth’s inner strength and her quiet understanding of the turmoil that has beset her husband since his return from Vietnam.

“As always, the stresses of a play can be really overwhelming, but there’s a certain dynamic in the creative process to directing that I find extremely rewarding. I mean, you literally take words, their meaning, and attempt to portray that into a vision in physical form,” said Roozen of Spearfish. “Theatre is really the only medium I know of which can be done a million different ways, yet still convey some strong message to others. Seeing the cast members ‘get it’ or realize what their character’s essence is is phenomenal – there’s nothing like sharing in the joy of another’s light bulb going on.”

Roozen has acted in five DWU productions, two of which were at the MACT. She has also directed two 10-minute plays, “Cameras” and “The Drummer,” in addition to “Laundry & Bourbon,” which is one act of the two-part play.

“Attempting to cultivate a finished product is always stressful. I think it’s also worthwhile. When the final line is delivered, or the music signaling the finale swells, you feel accomplished knowing that you started with paper and ended with a tangible emotional dialogue for others to sift through, and, hopefully, learn something in the process,” she said.

“I really hope people walk away from my play examining their own lives and pasts. Sometimes, things don’t always work out the way we anticipate, but we always have to try and persevere and be loyal to those that we love. Life isn’t a slice of pie every day, but if you add a little whipped cream, sometimes that can make all the difference.”

Tafoya, of Pueblo, Colo., was originally scheduled to direct the DWU production “House of Blue Leaves,” but the show was canceled due to five actors on the women’s soccer team which made it to nationals. Senior Danny Richardson was also set to direct “Lone Star” but a scheduling conflict forced her to ask Tafoya to step in to direct this second half of a two-part play.

“It’s a whole new world of theatre for me,” she said. “I love acting, and directing is a huge challenge for me. Directing challenges me to be more creative and builds leadership that I have been striving for.”

“Lone Star” consists of three male actors, which at times was a challenge for Tafoya, “I am directing three males and it’s tough, but so much fun.”

“Lone Star” takes place in the cluttered backyard of a small-town Texas bar. Elizabeth’s husband, Roy, a brawny, macho type who had once been a local high school hero, is back in town after a hitch in Vietnam, trying to re-establish his position in the community. Joined by his younger brother, Roy, who worships him, Ray sets about consuming a case of beer while regaling Ray with tales of his military exploits. Roy cherishes three things in life: Lone Star beer, his wife, Elizabeth, and his classic pink Thunderbird car, not necessarily in that order.

“I want them to know that life isn’t always perfect and it sure isn’t fair, but you can laugh through the hard times,” Tafoya said about what she hopes people get out of her play. “Know what’s more important in life and never take anything for granted. Because learning the hard way isn’t fun!”