This weekend at the Ulrey Performing Arts Center, the theatre department will be showing “A Company of Wayward Saints” directed by professor of theatre Steven Frye. The show follows a wayward commedia dell’arte troupe as they try to perform the history of mankind for a nobleman in the audience who has promised to send them home if he is impressed. While the first act is full of commedia-style humor and physical comedy, the second act takes a serious turn as the troupe falls apart at the seams trying to work together.
According to Frye, commedia dell’arte is a style from the 1500s that involves fast paced, physical motions that move away from realistic facial expressions. Every character wears a mask throughout the performance.
“We’re looking for an overall comic expression and how to translate that into your voice and body,” Frye said.
Along with the commedia dell’arte, the show will employ a large amount of improvisation. Throughout rehearsals, actors are encouraged to add lines and jokes they feel fit the scene. Additionally, every performance of the play will have a certain theme that is announced to both the audience and actors the night of the show. The actors then have the task of adding lines throughout the evening that pertain to that theme.
“As far as the improv and the themes go, it doesn’t really make me nervous because it gives the show a chance to be fresh,” senior David Goble said. “I’m excited for the themes and I’m excited to not know what they are until minutes before we go on stage because the show will never get dull.”
According to Frye, “A Company of Wayward Saints” is a new approach to the theatre department’s season. Two of the department’s pieces every year will now be focused less on lights and set and instead will feature talented actors and introduce them to a new technique like commedia dell’arte.
“One of the things our students ask for regularly is more faculty directed opportunities,” Frye said. “With only five or six faculty members and multiple productions in a year, we have to give and take a little. The focus in these shows is on the student performers, not the costumes and set.”
With this new idea from the theatre department being launched this season, students said they are more excited than ever to be involved in these productions.
“This is constantly proving that we are diverse as a department, and that we can do different things,” junior Kayli Kendall said. “It’s exciting because every night you get to show off what makes you different and unique as an actor and prove why you’re in this profession.”
Freshman Patrick Jones agreed, saying that it has been incredible taking a script and adding to it to make it their own new and fresh show.
“A Company of Wayward Saints” will be showing Thursday through Saturday night at the Ulrey at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 or free with a CAB Pass.
