PVCC Laramie Project wraps up performances
By Ty Brown, November 2009
Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of PVCC Theatre Dept. |
| The play challenges actors to step into character, slipping on a jacket or holding a tape-recorder, and then step into the background or move the few, spare props while remaining on stage throughout the performance. |
The Laramie Project just recently wrapped up a string of 6 performances in 2 weeks here at PVCC. The production of this play, which was put on by The Division of Fine and Performing Arts at PVCC, and directed by Mark Stoddard, was nothing short of great.
The Laramie Project takes place in the small town of Laramie, Wyoming. The play documents the Tectonic Theater Project's trip to the town after the murder of Matthew Sheppard, a young gay resident. During its visit, the theater group would go on to interview town residents, gathering up information for what would become a future play. The play shows those interviews, the thoughts of town residents before and after the murder and the thoughts of Tectonic Theater Project members during their visit. It is strictly a documentary, put into play form. All of the events shown are true life events.
Once the play began, I was a little taken aback by the set. As there was technically no set, just different levels, and very few stage props, but things would start off with a bang. News clips from the days of the murder were shown on a large projection screen above the stage, all actual news clips from the time. I thought this was a great way to educate anyone who is not familiar with Matthew Sheppard or his story, like myself. The news clips faded out, and the play began, with the interviews of town residents. Now this can get a little confusing at first, as no actor is playing any less than two characters, and there is no set changes or costume changes, other than over coats, glasses, little things like that. But once you understand that the actors are playing Tectonic Theater members and town residents, the play becomes very clear and thought provoking.
After the interviews, there was a short segment of different journal entries from the theater group. This provided great insight into the story. It also allowed the audience to get to know these people, why they were going to Laramie and what they thought personally of the trip. The journal entries lead into the main chunk of the story, more interviews by the theater members. With these interviews you get to understand the time and place in which these people lived. I thought it really came across well and you got the whole story from these interviews.
The play would continue on, showing big events leading up to and after the murder. I feel that the play ultimately worked so well because it was simple and effective. There weren't any distractions on stage. The actors conveyed the story across, with acting and nothing more. This play is even more amazing considering the fact that these actors played multiple characters in the span of two hours, all of which come off well and fully developed. The acting in this play was again, why the play was great. One standout performance was by Ryan Wetter who played Doc O'Connor, Father Roger Schmidt, Gil Engen and Judge 2. His portrayal of Doc O'Connor, a cab driver in Laramie who had moved there from back east, who drove Matthew around on his last night alive, was amazing. Wetter, really grasped the essential nature of all his characters, but ultimately Doc O'Connor stood out above the rest.
Another stand out performance was put on by Tabitha Sluyter. She played, Reggie Flutie, Sherry Aananson, Trish Steger and Barbara Pitts. Her depiction of officer Reggie Flutie was wonderful, and the scene where officer Flutie is reenacting the night that she found Matthew tied to a fence, bloody and beaten, was greatly depicted by Sluyter. Her emotion poured out onstage and it felt like I was there, watching officer Flutie try to save this young man's life. Other great performances were put on by James Hitner, Kent Welborn and Buddy Henlin. But, all the performers should be applauded for taking on a play with such a controversial topic and portraying multiple characters.
I also feel that The Division of Fine and Performing Arts should really be thanked for putting on a controversial play that has a message, which is still greatly relevant today, as well, as be thanked for raising awareness about an issue that can often be overlooked.
"Prelude to a Kiss," the next production at PVCC runs Nov. 19 through Nov. 22. It is presented by The PVCC Theater Department.
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