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McDANIEL THEATRE , Py~··· "The Good Soul" of the McDaniel Community LAUREN MILLER ZACH BROWN from reality, even though the theme of Staff Writer Staff Writer the play relates directly to situations in society today." This disconnect between For most people, the only part of theater they get a chance what is real and what is beyond reality to be a part of is the end product. For the audience, the "The Good Soul of Szechuan" is the first is something to contemplate when two or three hours spent wotc~ing the play is all they do. show to hit the boards .of the McDaniel regarding the purpose of the playas a But ask any person who has worked behind the scenes of a stage, and this year, being a theatre kid whole, and what the implications of that play or musical, and they will say that so much more than goes into that performance. you can imagine myself, I am excited to experience the disconnect are. Paul Griffin plays the port of Yang Sun in the theater's show. I would hope that the McDaniel Bertolt Brecht, a german playwright current production The Good Soul of Szechuan, and he and Westminster community would be known for the Epic Theatre style, wrote says that theater can literally toke over your life during the just as interested as I am, and coming up the play. Stylistically, Epic Theatre strives pre-production rehearsals. are some reasons why. to have the audience reflect upon them "Something that people don't realize about rehearsals First, I have to note the fact that I am as to where they stand in terms of the is how much time and work a play takes to put on. In involved in the show, as I am on Stage themes and motifs of the show, rather college, there is a month's time to put on a show. That Crew; dealing with the movement and than sympathize with the characters in means rehearsing from 6-11 every single day of the week. arrangement of the set pieces that need the play. In addition to this, Elizabeth As for as tech goes, people will be building and designing handling. What this means? Well, I have van den Berg, director, has developed set, lights, and sound sometimes up to twelve hours of the personal experience with aspects of the a way to integrate Asian acting styles day for an entire month," said Griffin. "Being a theatre show, and I know many of the people into the performance in an attempt to major leaves time for about an hour of social time a day on who are much more involved. match the setting of the Chinese city of top of classes. Some of us even Fi~d it difficult making time to eat." As a technician in the theatre, I Szechuan. Whitney Snow Walker, who plays Mrs. Shin, also offers am inclined to speak on behalf of the Whitney Walker, an actress in "Good that there is a lot that goes into rehearsals, but she says technical side first, so let's start with Soul" says, ''We've integrated a lot of rehearsals make .lcr a fun part of theater life. the set. As soon as you walk up into specifics from Noh and Kabuki theatre "It takes tons of hours to put a show together. In my the Mainstage, your eyes are drawn to to create a world that no one has ever personal experience, I think I've spent a minimum of 10 massive set pieces set by either side of seen before." In creating this new world, hours a week on a show," said Walker. "At home, I did the proscenium (the boxy section where the performance is asking the audience a few proFessional productions and we had 8 days of 6 the curtains hang from) that are nude to live in the shoes of the characters in hour rehearsals, 1 day of 10 hours of rehearsal and then 3 up of lopsided triangles, drawing the an attempt to experience this new world weeks of performances. It's very intense, but olso creative .eye to any number of off-kilter angles, for their own, and contemplating on and you become a family with the rest of the cost. J've also keeping the audience wondering about decisions that would be made in those worked on the production side of shows ond they put in as the purpose of each piece, and how positions. many, if not more hours." a lot of work that goes into a play, there's Even though the set works in tandem with the story. All in all, if any of this has sounded many of the cast members love the work because it gives In terms of lighting, another technical interesting, or if you feel like a bit of them a place to escape to. aspect of the theatre, there are very contemplation is needed in your life, Kelsey Gondek, who plays Wang, said" My favorite specific techniques that are being used. or even if you just want an entertaining aspect [of acting] is the chance to just take on this . Rosalie Edelston, lighting designer, night with a group of friends, come completely different persona and kind of run away from the spoke about drawing inspiration from out to McDaniel Theatre October 5 th real world for a while. In my opinion there is not bod pert.": visual kei, a Japanese style of fashion through the 8