The double feature happening in the W.D Powell theatre Thursday April 19 through Sunday April 22 is sure to be an exciting one. Not only are these plays student directed, but one was even written and directed by the same student.
Samuel Edgren, a senior here at Union with majors in theatre and English, wrote his play in completion of Discipline Specific Honors for his English major.
“I wanted to adapt a play of an existing piece of literature…I chose ‘Paradise Lost’ by John Milton because I liked the story and dramatic content,” Edgren said. “So I spent the next year and a half working on a script, the story line is an expanded play of Genesis 3 as seen by Milton, as seen by me.”
He explained that the script is a straight adaptation of “Paradise Lost” but that the content was in no way to be taken as absolutely true or scriptural. The theme being man’s first disobedience, which occurs in Genesis 3.
The play, entitled “Pardon the Pitchfork,” consists of five actors and there really isn’t anyone else involved. Edgren even designed the sets himself.
“It’s weird to see the things I wrote and spent so much time on being said by other people,” he said. “Seeing them consider and ask the same questions that I would ask of a greater work.”
The play following “Pardon the Pitchfork” was written by Mark Medoff and directed by Matthew Wallace, a senior theatre and psychology double major.
Entitled “Children of a Lesser God,” this play follows the story of a hearing man reliving his relationship with a deaf woman. Wallace explained that he took an American Sign Language class his sophomore year and fell in love with the deaf community.
“I eventually chose to do ‘Children of a Lesser God’ because the show has such a variety of emotions and makes you think about diversity, love, relationships and humanity in such a different way,” Wallace said. “I wanted others to appreciate the beauty that I saw in ASL and the deaf community.”
Upon first impression it appears that the shows share nothing more than a set, however, according to Wallace, both shows explore very complex relationships in ways that most people never think about. While they are two completely separate shows, they are not completely disparate.
“We have worked hard to portray the deaf community in a way that is honest and respectful,” Wallace said. “This is a show you won’t regret coming to see.”
Both plays will be showing in the W.D Powell theatre Thursday-Sunday, “Pardon the Pitchfork” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and “Children of a Lesser God” at 8:45 p.m. Saturday and 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $2 and are for sale outside Brewer dining hall or online.
