Superheroes, villains, henchpeople, a chupacabra, pink flamingos and a boat sailing the mountains of Tibet.
Expect to see these things in Theatre X for the next two weeks.
"Thou Art Villain" and "Tibetan Mountain Boat" will open at Theatre X on Thursday. The show features two original one-act comedies written, acted, directed and produced by students.
Theater major James Blessing wrote "Tibetan Mountain Boat," and Theodore Jackson, a December theater graduate, wrote "Thou Art Villain."
SCRAP, a student-run theatrical production company, takes two play proposals per semester, and Blessing's and Jackson's were chosen in the fall.
Blessing said his play is experimental and involves audience participation. The play is partly focused on the idea that theater can be a collaboration between actors and audience, and "a role that's built for two." He said he was inspired by an absurdist comedy that was never performed, and the story of Thespis, who was originally part of a chorus but stepped out and became an actor.
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"I have seen goofy things happen in theaters, and I love that," Blessing said. "Theater is different from movies - you can literally reach out and touch someone."
Jackson said "Thou Art Villain," about a supervillain who lost his superhero and is figuring out what to do about it, was influenced by comic books and theater.
"I wanted to see something comic booky on stage," he said.
Jackson said the two plays share common threads.
"They both deal with characters who are not happy with their situations," he said.
Both plays also question roles that people are in. Blessing said audiences should reflect on their lives and where they're going.
"I want people to ask themselves what they're doing," Blessing said. "Why would they act in a terrible show? Why would they do marketing for a company? Why would they write for a newspaper? I think it can translate into any vocation. What would it take to rebel?"
Jackson's play is also about questioning being in one particular role.
"It's a lot about moving on and learning to not be stuck on something or letting your life be guided by one specific thing," Jackson said.
Rebecca Jo Griner, director of "Tibetan Mountain Boat" said it is about controlled chaos and breaking the rules (like including the audience in the show).
"In theater in high school it was all about never addressing the audience, and there were all these rules, and it was fun, but breaking the rules is fun and dangerous," she said. "It's about pulling the actors and the audience out of their comfort zones."
Griner said she hopes audiences can have fun at the performances and that they support fellow students.
"Theater is fun - it can be anything you want it to be," she said. "This is theater written, acted and directed by students. Supporting this is supporting your peers."
Jackson said the process of creating a work for other students to perform is also about collaboration.
"I can only start the process, and other people end up finishing it," he said. "It's one of the things I do love about theater."
'Tibetan Mountain Boat' and 'Thou Art Villain'
Theatre X
Through March 14
Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
March 15, 6 p.m.
$8 faculty/$7 staff and students
