2008 Woodie Awards
SBU 'must see' ends the waiting
Ben Nielsen
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Gallery
- Page 1 of 1
A simple war story turns into something intellectually greater in the new Southwest Baptist University theater production "Waiting for the Parade."
John Murrell's war story is written from the perspective of four Canadian women and one German immigrant during World War II, each dealing with different issues of having either a husband or son greatly involved in the war.
Janet (Kelly Crosby) is the leader of a women's group which is helping with the war effort. Eve (Shannon Klousia), Margaret (Briannon Scott) and Catherine (Cara Davern-Hampton) are all workers under Janet's direction in this movement.
The relationships built in this group help each of them deal with the hard facts of war and its consequences.
Marta (Shana Christine McCoy), whose father has been arrested for being a German, becomes an odd member of the group after her own set of circumstances introduce her to Catherine.
The overall script and structure of this play is nothing to get too excited about. What makes this play so appealing is the strange connection of Murrell's story and current world events.
All five of the female characters do an excellent job defining each set of circumstances as it relates to their character and their modern day equivalent.
Klousia is the key to this play's success. Without her character, the play could become something of an emotional boulder placed on the audience's chest, keeping the viewer from receiving the message of the play. Klousia's ability to execute her character's morbid humor and "Jeckel and Hyde" personality allows the viewer to take a lighter approach and focus on the intellectual message Murrell is attempting to convey.
At times, the episodic structure of the play seems to be its own enemy. Some scenes seem to drag on longer than they should, while others leave the audience wanting more. Davern-Hampton, who is also the director, does an excellent job of organizing the play in such a way that the main climax can be easily identified by the audience - an audience who will view many mini-climaxes throughout the production.
It should be noted that this is the first all-female cast in an SBU play in at least six or seven years. If this is how all female casts are going to be, there needs to be more casts like this one.
Overall, this is an excellent production that must be viewed through the eyes of current events and with an understanding of each individual character's situation. "Parade" warrants a "must see" title.
"Waiting for the Parade" runs from April 19 to April 21. Performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Davis-Newport Theater. For more information, call the box office at 328-1691 or e-mail at boxoffice@sbuniv.edu.
John Murrell's war story is written from the perspective of four Canadian women and one German immigrant during World War II, each dealing with different issues of having either a husband or son greatly involved in the war.
Janet (Kelly Crosby) is the leader of a women's group which is helping with the war effort. Eve (Shannon Klousia), Margaret (Briannon Scott) and Catherine (Cara Davern-Hampton) are all workers under Janet's direction in this movement.
The relationships built in this group help each of them deal with the hard facts of war and its consequences.
Marta (Shana Christine McCoy), whose father has been arrested for being a German, becomes an odd member of the group after her own set of circumstances introduce her to Catherine.
The overall script and structure of this play is nothing to get too excited about. What makes this play so appealing is the strange connection of Murrell's story and current world events.
All five of the female characters do an excellent job defining each set of circumstances as it relates to their character and their modern day equivalent.
Klousia is the key to this play's success. Without her character, the play could become something of an emotional boulder placed on the audience's chest, keeping the viewer from receiving the message of the play. Klousia's ability to execute her character's morbid humor and "Jeckel and Hyde" personality allows the viewer to take a lighter approach and focus on the intellectual message Murrell is attempting to convey.
At times, the episodic structure of the play seems to be its own enemy. Some scenes seem to drag on longer than they should, while others leave the audience wanting more. Davern-Hampton, who is also the director, does an excellent job of organizing the play in such a way that the main climax can be easily identified by the audience - an audience who will view many mini-climaxes throughout the production.
It should be noted that this is the first all-female cast in an SBU play in at least six or seven years. If this is how all female casts are going to be, there needs to be more casts like this one.
Overall, this is an excellent production that must be viewed through the eyes of current events and with an understanding of each individual character's situation. "Parade" warrants a "must see" title.
"Waiting for the Parade" runs from April 19 to April 21. Performances begin at 7 p.m. in the Davis-Newport Theater. For more information, call the box office at 328-1691 or e-mail at boxoffice@sbuniv.edu.
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