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News Archives - February 2006
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Feb. 15, 2006
Contact: Rita Mitchell, University Relations
Vanguard Theatre presents short plays from "DURANG/DURANG"
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin's Vanguard Theatre has a multi-play event planned for its spring production. From Feb. 23-26, four short plays by contemporary playwright, Christopher Durang, will be presented in the Harriet Fulton Theatre of the Fine and Performing Arts Building on campus. The plays belong to a larger work of Durang's called "Durang/Durang." They range in length from a few minutes to just over an hour and will be presented in two acts.
All of the offerings in this production are comedies. They parody the theatre or satirize modern life. Opening the bill will be a play titled "Mrs. Sorken." The one-woman scene features Melanie Hollis, theatre assistant in the Department of Visual and Theatre Arts. The character of Mrs. Sorken acts as a hostess for the evening and, in her own jumbled way, attempts to inform the audience about some of the roots of theatre.
Hollis also will serve as director of the second play, "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls." This play parodies the Tennessee Williams play, "The Glass Menagerie." A parody closely imitates an existing work. One example in this play is that instead of looking for a gentleman caller for her daughter, Laura, as she does in the Williams play, Amanda is looking for a feminine caller for her son, Lawrence, who collects cocktail stirrers. Kim Gibson, of Fayetteville, performs the part of Amanda and Ron Peckham, of Martin, is Lawrence. Adrien Eubank, of Crossville, and Eric Danz, of Martin, play the feminine caller and Amanda's son, Tom, respectively.
Finishing the first act will be Durang's parody of "Medea," co-written with Wendy Wasserstein. In the role of Medea will be Natalie Horbelt, of Memphis, and in the role of her unfaithful husband, Jason, will be Dusty Stringer, of Martin. The women of the Greek chorus are Jessica Eslinger, of Newport, Tori Shaw and Jessica Sims, both of Dyer. Appearing as the messenger will be James Baker, of Middleton. Stephanie Dowell, of Nashville, will be the deus ex machine, an angel who brings a happy ending.
The second act of the evening's entertainment will be "Beyond Therapy." This is a satire on modern relationships and dependence on therapy to solve problems that might otherwise take care of themselves. Prudence answers a personal ad from the paper and meets Bruce at a restaurant. Comedy ensues with glasses of water flying, phone calls from an irate mother and Snoopy offering advice. Appearing as Prudence and Bruce, respectively, will be Jennifer Baumgardner, of McKenzie, and Will Cook, of Martin. Allyson Truly, of Memphis, and Anderson Nichols, of Union City, will play the psychiatrists. Bob will be played by Brandon Douglas, of Jackson. Tony Liberty, of Millington, plays the waiter at the restaurant, Andrew. Ken Zimmerman directs this play as well as "Medea" and "Mrs. Sorken."
Curtain times are at 8 p.m. There will be a matinee at 3 p.m., Feb. 25. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. The box office will be open from noon-5 p.m., daily, starting Feb. 20. It will re-open two hours before curtain. Phone reservations may be made by calling 731-881-7090.
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