prairie point

we get some culture

The last two Fridays have seen Tricia and me at SMU watching plays performed by the school's graduate theater students. In the director's notes in last night's program, Leah C. Gardiner, who has directed many professional actors, wrote that the student actors were as good as any she had directed.

For several years we have been going regularly to plays there and we have to agree. Not only is the acting about as good as most of the local theaters around here, but the auditoriums and sets are first-rate. Another thing is that the plays are often classics which we don't often have the chance to see. All this for a price about half that at local professional theaters.

Last night we saw Turcaret, an 18th-century French comedy about greed, credit and a money hungry middle class. Friday before last it was The Children's Hour.

The audience at these plays is an interesting mixture. It's on campus so there are always a good number of students on dates and in little groups. Then there are usually family members of the performers. Lots of elderly people are there in groups, too. But there are not many between those ages.

The Children's Hour was an especial treat for people-watching because it was performed in the round. We were early so we got to watch practically the entire audience cross the stage to their seats. It's a blast to watch the students. I am not often around people of this age group. Despite the differences in clothing and hair styles, it brings back old memories.

Posted by Bill Hopkins on October 9, 2004 10:00 PM