The Department of Theatre’s performance of Eurydice was postponed after wintry weather conditions delayed set completion, setting the cast back in rehearsal.
“With the snow last week, it didn’t allow us much time to work on everything. We’ve got a complicated set and we needed a little more time to get that up,” said director Emily Rankin, senior theatre major from Abilene. “We just didn’t think that we’d have enough time to be able to do everything we wanted to do with moving a week of work. [It’s] better to be prepared.”
As of now, the cast and crew are all back to regular rehearsal, and the production will run Feb. 17 through Feb. 19 with the talk-back session scheduled for Feb. 18.
Based on classic Greek mythology, Eurydice tells the tragic story of a young newlywed couple, and the depths of which love will go.
“Orpheus and Eurydice are married, and Eurydice dies. Orpheus misses her so much that he travels to the underworld to rescue her,” Rankin said. “He then plays beautiful music so that he can convince the lord of the underworld to let him take Eurydice back.”
Rankin said that the particular piece they will be performing is an updated version, and finds that Eurydice must make a decision, spinning the plot.
“The thing is that it’s from Eurydice’s point of view, so you meet her in the underworld and see what she goes through while Orpheus is looking for her.”
In line with the Department of Theatre’s mission to deliver thought-provoking pieces, Rankin said that the play will tackle questions that students deal with in their daily lives.
“The play asks questions that are universal like what happens to us after we die, what parts of us get left, and what parts of us are we able to take once we leave this world,” said Rankin. “It also tackles how strong the bonds of love are, and what kind of relationships we carry on even after this world has passed away. It’s a play about questions but not necessarily answers which is something a lot of people are drawn to.”
Dawne Swearingen-Churchville, assistant professor of acting, said Rankin brings something special to the stage as the director.
“[Rankin] was so well-rooted in the text and well-researched. She already had a great understanding of what the story was and the direction that she wanted to go with it,” Swearingen-Churchville said. “Because she has put the trust in the students and has allowed them to try some things and take risks, there is a comfortable environment that’s there.”
As scheduled, the talk-back for the show on Feb. 18 will continue. This has served as a means of communication between stage members and the audience in the past.
“We find these sessions very interesting and enlightening,” Rankin said. “We started doing talk-backs a few years ago, and it has really changed our relationship with our audience. It helps open that dialogue more between the stage and the seats.”
Tickets may be purchased for $12 at the WPAC box office.
