By Chris Beswetherick
The College of Fine and Performing Arts Theatre Department opens their dark, puzzling performance of the play “Family Game Night” by Kendra Phillips on October 30 in the DUG Theatre. “Family Game Night” is a play about the power of love and tells the story of a couple’s visit to the boyfriend’s parent’s home and a challenging realization that arises during the night.
Tickets cost $10 for Western faculty and staff, $7 for students, and $12 for general admission adults.
This play has strong sexual themes written in, so it can be difficult to witness. However, the Theatre Department has presented controversial works every year, and they do so carefully and emotionally, but effectively. Theater professor Mark Kuntz is directing “Family Game Night.”
“Every year there is new work,” Kuntz said. “This play is brand new. It is an abstract play, under the umbrella of the game Twister. As the family twists playing the game, at what point does it become sexual?”
This topic is explored through abstract techniques. There will even be a character who represents the game board itself.
“We abstracted everything and embraced Twister to its fullest extent,” Kuntz said. “It’s brand new.”
The playwright uses symbolism heavily in the play, primarily through the motif of Twister. The form of the stage and theatre contribute to the effect of the play. The stage is constructed in the arena style, meaning the audience circles the stage from all sides. An arena stage creates multiple perspectives for the audience to view the play. The round itself will be built in the style of a Twister board.
“This is my first play on the round,” fourth year acting and musical theatre student Eryn McVay said. “There is very heavy symbolism.”
The abstraction the playwright wrote into the story tests the actors’ ability and makes them pay close attention to the script.
“Almost every single word has weight. I could unpack this play for days,” McVay said. “There are an infinite amount of choices you can make in one line.”
McVay portrays a 15 year old schizophrenic troubled by her past. McVay researched and analyzed her character to figure out how to best portray her. The department brought in an entirely new play to perform so there are no references for the actors or director to consult.
“It is very disorienting playing this character. I’ve really researched the disability,” McVay said. “It is the most challenging role I’ve ever worked on.”
McVay, rather than just portraying the role, is learning about more universal subjects, too. She has never experienced a play process like this show.
“I’ve learned a lot about acceptance during this show,” McVay said. “I would like for this play to spark some sort of discussion.”
The show also incorporates A Capella music throughout, without much accompaniment. The cast will use the stage to create beats and their voices in harmonies. Their overall performance will include a mix of rehearsed acting and emotional music. The music is abstracted, too, with songs sung in mostly consonant sounds and artistic dancing.
“It is complicated, dissonant music,” Kuntz said. “It is atonal.”
The show has also tested Jackie Campbell’s abilities. Campbell is a senior studying theatre and portraying Connie Marshal in “Family Game Night.” The production of the play began with 10 days of intensive rehearsals to create the foundations for the show.
“I love singing, I love music, but [A Cappella] does not come so easily to me. It’s been a challenge, but in the end it’s just singing,” Marshal said. “Starting out it was definitely chaotic, but we have a really amazing cast.”
Campbell plays the girlfriend in the couple and, over the course of the play, discovers an unfortunate truth about him. She begins to question her love of him, but ultimately struggles due to the attachment she already has. The playwright wants to convey this theme of unconditional love through this story.
“How strong is love?” Kuntz said. “It is really magical and one of the most challenging plays I have directed.”
The show lasts two and a half hours, with one intermission. Aside from that intermission, the whole cast will be on stage for the entirety of the show, another challenge for the actors.
Dates of the show are the evenings of October 21, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and matinees October 22 and 29 at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets from the box office on campus.
