Sex, murder mysteries, the undead and futuristic sci-fi shared a stage with classic childhood tales, nineteenth-century Russian comedy and contemporary New York love during a year in which Tufts theater was more varied than ever.
Freshmen were welcomed to campus with two high-energy orientation shows. Torn Ticket II performed "Zombie Prom," directed by sophomore Josh Altman, a musical in which a high-school rebel becomes the living dead and takes his sweetheart to prom despite an overbearing headmistress' objections. The Pen, Paint and Pretzels (3Ps) show, "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," directed by senior David Jenkins, balanced the fun kitsch of Torn Ticket with an intellectual what-if situation injected with plenty of humor. Written by Steve Martin, the show juxtaposes two brilliant minds of the 20th century, Picasso and Einstein, as they meet in a caf?© as young men.
While the performances during orientation might have seemed like hard acts to follow, the rest of the semester proved to be just as creative and entertaining.
The Department of Drama and Dance hit the stage in late October with Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," a captivating Russian "comedy" of misery and woe directed by Professor Laurence Senelick. Featuring characters that probably could have benefited from Prozac, the show depicted love, loss and failed dreams of acting with a dose of humor amidst its serious emotional trials.
The department's second production, "Rain. Some Fish. No Elephants." by Y York premiered in February, giving its audience a not-too-optimistic glimpse into the future. The show, directed by Associate Professor Downing Cless, presented a renegade family trying to maintain their identity in a world complete with global warming, eugenics, rampant racism and a totalitarian government.
The drama department wrapped up its season with the Sondheim musical "Company," directed by Associate Professor Barbara Grossman. Instead of following a chronological narrative, this "concept musical" presented disjointed scenes that viewers used to understand the story as a whole, which focused on midlife crises and marriage in the Big Apple.
In addition to the department shows, performances by student groups abounded.
Bare Bodkin's 24 Hour Theater Festival started the year on an innovative note. Three teams of students were challenged to create a play beginning with the line "An octopus? My God, how did he manage it?" in just 24 hours. They were then judged on their performance, and one team was named the winner. Although the competition was brutal, team Sexy Chocolate reigned victorious over both Spermaphore and Miss Tickletail and the Kindergarten Mafia.
In December, Bare Bodkin collaborated with a playwriting class to bring 10 student-written shows to the stage in "Play by Play," as well as teaming up with Torn Ticket II to present the musical "Eyota," a fairytale adventure written and directed by sophomore Kris Coombs.
Student-written theater continued into the spring, with Bare Bodkin presenting "[sic]" by senior Caitlin Johnson in Lewis Lounge.
3Ps began a solid season with its freshman show. "Arsenic and Old Lace," directed by senior Luke Yu, showcased some fresh acting talent as two sweet old ladies poison several old men (with the best of intentions) and their nephew is left to sort things out.
The 3Ps fall major "Hot 'n' Throbbing," directed by Johnson, took a turn toward the serious. With its unflinching look at sexual violence and domestic abuse, the show gave audiences a thought-provoking and emotionally charged performance.
Spring 3Ps major "Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up," directed by senior Brendan Shea, used elaborate costumes and set, along with a unique shoegazer soundtrack, to put a fresh spin on an old classic, reminding Tufts students that their time in Neverland is almost up.
Students were able to get their theater fixes at multiple minor productions as well. In the fall, sophomore Josh Altman directed "Control Freaks," the story of a schizophrenic woman and those who manipulate her, while "Still Life," directed by junior Ari Rosenbaum, examined the lives of three people in the aftermath of the Vietnam war.
In the spring, the comedy and horror of relationships was examined in "Luv," directed by sophomore Lisa Goldberg, while director Tim Wagner (LA '05) probed the theatrical mind of Samuel Beckett with three short one-acts. Sophomore Matthew Diamante examined what happens when a pair of friends' efforts to bring a play to the big screen gets interrupted by a herd of cows in the Aaron Sorkin comedy "Hidden in this Picture."
Musicals were alive and kicking all year, despite Torn Ticket II beginning its season with a murder. After the undead hijinks of Zombie Prom, fall major "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," based on an unfinished novel by Charles Dickens and directed by senior Brian Smith, allowed audience members to decide the fate of its characters, all of whom were trying to unravel a murder mystery. Things got doubly complicated as the characters in the show put on their own play.
In their major spring show, members of Torn Ticket II took to the tabloids with "Bat Boy: The Musical." After being discovered by teenage spelunkers and introduced to West Virginia society, Bat Boy must deal with being ostracized and eventually hunted, all while trying to find love and perfect his British accent.
Believe it or not, "Bat Boy" wasn't the only musical to deal with themes of animals and outcasts this year: fall minor "Futz," a joint Torn Ticket and 3Ps production directed by Shea and presented in the new Sophia Gordon performing space, told the story of a town pariah blamed for a small town's ills because of his illicit love of a pig.
Torn Ticket's spring minors dealt with love of a more common variety. "The Last Five Years," directed by graduate drama student Virginia Anderson, presented the story of a failed marriage told from start to finish by the groom and in reverse chronological order by the bride, with the two only meeting in the middle at their wedding. Love continued its spot under the microscope in "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change," directed by sophomore Ansley Fones. Four actors played a myriad of characters in many different - but always funny - situations and relationships.
Many vibrant performances on top of the ones mentioned above contributed to the prolific theatrical season. Acts like Tufts' mime troupe Hype!, improv comedians Cheap Sox, and sketch comedy group Major: Undecided also added pizzazz to the academic year.
Next year looks to be as promising as the last; Torn Ticket II will present "The Great American Trailer Park Musical" at Orientation, along with 3Ps performance of "The Real Inspector Hound," although the Hill will certainly mourn the loss of this year's group of immensely talented senior performers and directors.
