The Barometer Online

Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Contributed Art Feygon Nickerson, center, prevents a pub brawl between David Partin, left, and Dieter Rudolph, right, in "The Couldabeen Hamlet."

In between cramming for finals and saying goodbyes, students have the opportunity to see five plays this weekend.

The OSU Theatre will be presenting a series of student-directed and student-performed one-act plays starting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Withycombe Hall and running until Saturday, with a matinee performance on Sunday at 2 p.m. .

The five plays to be performed are "The Couldabeen Hamlet," directed by Arianne Jacques; "Practical Magic," directed by Nicholas Sheler; "War," directed by Aislyn Marshall; "The Boy in the Basement," directed by Katherine Krissie; and "The Boor," directed by Arin Dooley.

"We've been working all term, probably about 20 hours a week on research, props and rehearsals," said Sheler, a junior in theatre.

"It's a big time commitment, but also a lot of fun. We've been having a great time but it's been a little stressful. Overall it's all gone well and we've got some really great plays."

The students chose very different plays for their directorial debuts.

"My play, 'Practical Magic,' follows two couples going through pregnancies and dealing with the perils and promises of having a baby," Sheler said.

For Arianne Jacques, also a junior in theatre, her inspiration was Shakespeare.

"I chose my play because I really liked the idea of bringing to the stage Shakespeare and his actors," Jacques said. "It's set in a pub, which I think people these days can relate to."

The student actors in the plays had to audition and attend regular rehearsals with their directors.

"The actors just do it for the experience - they are all volunteers," Sheler said.

Addy Rutter, a senior in chemistry, has performed in the one-acts in previous years.

"I think it's a really great that students have this opportunity to direct a play for the university and Corvallis communities. They're are supposed to be really funny. I'm sure they're all going to be great."

The student directors also had nothing but praise for each other's work.

"We're all really impressed by each other. We had high expectations, and I think we all exceeded them," Jacques said. "It was really helpful to watch each other's plays and give feedback."

Tickets are available at the University Theater box office in Withycombe from noon until 5 p.m., and at 7:30 p.m. on the night of the performances or 1:15 p.m. for the Sunday matinee.

Ticket prices are $4 for students, $8 for general admission and $6 for seniors.

"All the other directors have done a fantastic job," Sheler said. "The parts where you're supposed to laugh, you laugh, and the parts where you're supposed to get that lump in your throat, you do."

Tracy Hoagland, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools