RIANNA SEELIG
Staff Writer
The Fredonia Department of Theatre and Dance has been in the process of rehearsing an adaptation of “Six Characters in Search of an Author” by Robert Brustein. The production is the second of the semester in the Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, directed by Dr. James Ivey.
In a promotional YouTube video posted by the department, Ivey stated: “The title of the play, ‘Six Characters in Search of an Author,’ is pretty much exactly what happens in the play. Six fictional characters enter a theater, where a company is rehearsing a play, and they are looking for someone to complete their story.”
“Six Characters in Search of an Author” is an Italian play written in 1921 by Luigi Pirandello. The play is an absurdist metatheatrical — a form of fiction narrative highlighting characters in the midst of existential struggles or discoveries — and since its creation has been adapted countless times.
The show begins with a group of characters — about to start rehearsal for a play by Pirandello — who are interrupted by six strangers. This showcases the technique of having a play within a play.
The Director of the play is outraged by the interruption and demands the characters explain themselves. The Father, one of the leads, explains the characters are in search of an author to complete their story.
The Director assumes the characters are insane. However, when the characters begin arguing amongst themselves over their narrative and reveal further information about their story, the Director questions his assumption.
What follows is a quest for discovery. Illusion versus reality, determinism versus free-will, and the general human experience contribute to the bulk of the tension within the play.
The characters continue to tell their stories in hopes of making sense of their purpose. The relationships between characters, the Director and the hypothetical Author are explored.
The Fredonia production, unlike other adaptations, is set in 2015. The six strange characters whom intrude upon the rehearsal are from the 1920s. The set is purposefully left unfinished and somewhat disheveled to convey the sense that everything is still a work in progress.
David Rivera, a senior BFA musical theatre major, stated in the video: “This is a very different show than people may have seen here before. We get used to all the flashy dancing numbers and things like that. This is really a play that really questions the human condition.”
It’s true that many mainstage or PAC performances are, to quote Rivera, “flashy” — the most recent production that comes to mind being Cabaret. This makes for astounding and entertaining performances, but it will be interesting to see the more minimalistic side of the department as well.
Elaine Rava, a senior BFA Musical Theater major, described the set as “breathtaking” with “lighting design and technological accents that will ensure there is never a dull moment for the audience.”
In reference to the adaptation, Ivey stated: “What I’m trying to accomplish with this contemporary production of ‘Six Characters’ is to respect the integrity of the text … trying to find a version of the play that I felt would reach our contemporary audience was quite a challenge.”
The play is an unsettling one, often jarring to both the audience and the performers. Joanna Shapiro, a senior BFA Acting Major playing a lead in the performance, stated: “The show leaves me uneasy and anxious each night and therefore makes it a very difficult experience to forget.”
The performers, and a great deal of students in the department for that matter, rave about Ivey. His students and his performers appear to have loved the experience of working with him on such a wonderful piece of theater.
Shapiro especially, when asked about her experience as a performer in the play, had nothing but praise for the entire process:
“This experience was extremely liberating as an actress. It forced you to explore, improvise and truly create a unique character while guided by the brilliant text of Pirandello. The entire process, while truly rigorous, has easily become the most satisfying project I’ve collaborated on.”
The production will run Nov. 6-14 in the Bartlett Theatre. Tickets are currently available at the box office and online, $20 for the General Public and $18 for students.