Black hole pulls you in
TIMOTHY BROWN STAFF
The term “black hole,” as defi ned in the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, refers to a region of space with a gravitational fi eld so intense that no matter or radiation can escape. As hopefully most of you know, there is a theatre on campus called the Black Hole Th eatre and I believe that the previous defi nition might just pertain to this theatre as well. Because once you see the schedule for the 2006-07 season, you might fi nd yourself being pulled in with no chance of escape from the plays being presented.
Th is year the Black Hole Th eatre Company is presenting three very interesting plays. Th e fi rst is Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang, a very clever farce about psycho-analysis which will be playing from Nov. 14 to the 18 and 21- 25. “It’s about modern angst and neurosis,” said Chris Johnson, a professor in the faculty of English and the artistic director of the Black Hole Th eatre. “Everybody thinks they’re crazy, everybody thinks they’re sick and I suppose the analysts are just as crazy as anybody else.”
Th e second work to be presented is probably the most famous of Tom Stoppard’s plays, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are minor characters from Shakespeare’s Hamlet who are brought to the foreground in this funny yet thoughtful play. It is part of the MTC Master Playwright Festival in which, this year, the focus will be on the work of Tom Stoppard. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead will be running from January 18-27.
Th e third play of the year is a Manitoba work, Footprints on the Moon by Maureen Hunter. Th e play is about growing up in a small town in Manitoba and deciding whether to leave or stay. “A lot of people in the student audience, they can certainly relate to the dilemma in the play,” said Johnson. You can catch Footprints on the Moon from March 6 to 17.
Th ere will also be a series of fi ve short plays that will make up the BHTC Lunch BHAGG series. Th ey will be shown throughout the year at noon. Th e fi rst, which will be shown through October 10 to 12, is Megan Terry’s Ex-miss Copper Queen on a Set of Pills, which focuses on street life. Th e second play in the Lunch BHAGG series will be Rubbers, a work by Jonathan Reynolds that focuses on making contraception legal in the State of New York. Rubbers runs from October 17 to 19. Th e other three plays will be announced as the year progresses.
Anyone interested in taking part in any of the productions this year is encouraged to go to room 139 in the basement of University College, where one can sign up for the mailing list or fi nd out about upcoming audition schedules. You can also attend their start of the year party at Academy Lanes on Oct. 18.
Th e Black Hole Th eatre Company is studentrun and anyone can take part in any of the plays. “One of the things that makes this theatre program pretty interesting, I think, is the extent to which it’s student-driven and the extent to which the students make some pretty important decisions about running the theatre company . . . the theatre students elect an executive and they will be choosing next year’s season. Any member can propose a play if they agree to direct it. It’s a pretty democratic process,” explained Johnson.
So, whether you want to take part in the plays, or just want to enjoy them from the audience, you are more than welcome to come and take part in what looks to be an excellent season for the Black Hole Th eatre.
