Senior theatre major Elizabeth Schneider' 13 will direct four Davidson student actors in this duel-era story of self-discovery. On the 1958 set, Phillip is married to Sylvia, who is illustrating Oliver's most recent children's book. There's an obvious attraction between Philip and Oliver when they meet, leaving all three characters wondering what to do about their tense, unspoken emotions. In 2008, Phillip gets fed up and leaves his unfaithful partner Oliver who then turns to Sylvia, the woman who introduced the two, for consolation. Campbell's play explores the "then and now" of gender roles, and what it means to be gay in middle-class western society.
Productions will be November 14 – 17 at 7:30 p.m. and November 18 at 2 p.m., all in the Barber Theatre in Cunningham Theatre Center. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for seniors, $7 for faculty and staff and $5 for students. The performance contains graphic sexual content and brief nudity, and is recommended for ages 17 and up. Call 704-894-2135 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays for reservations, or purchase online at www.davidson.edu/tickets<http://www.davidson.edu/tickets>.
Schneider said she chose to direct The Pride "first and foremost because it is a beautiful play. The characters are relatable and can teach us all something about ourselves."
She appreciates The Pride's minimalist setting and small number of actors as a challenge in maintaining simplicity without compromising accuracy. Schneider also knew she would be directing on a college campus in a state that recently voted down gay marriage. "This is an important, pertinent issue that's created a lot of change in the past few years," she said. "I wanted to focus on it and do something politically challenging."
The cast is Tom James '15 as Philip, Megan Pratt '13 as Sylvia, Allen Rigby '14 as Oliver and Greg Thorn '15 as supporting actor. Theatre major Christian Hatch'15 designed the set and Barbara Wesselman designed costumes. Josh Peklo is lighting designer and Sarah Welty is sound producer.
For more information about the production, call 704-894-2930.
Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,900 students located 20 minutes north of Charlotte in Davidson, N.C. Since its establishment in 1837 by Presbyterians, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently regarded as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. Through The Davidson Trust, the college became the first liberal arts institution in the nation to replace loans with grants in all financial aid packages, giving all students the opportunity to graduate debt-free. Davidson competes in NCAA athletics at the Division I level, and a longstanding Honor Code is central to student life at the college.
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