But no skimping on that ACTing!
Master of Fine Arts Acting Candidate Jacob Squire directed a dedicated cast of seven in a three-week rehearsal process for this intense tale of a Korean war veteran coping with what we’d today call PTSD. In the 1955 era of this script, it was less recognized and help was difficult to find —yet similar stories of PTSD leading to addiction certainly persist today. A resource person named Jack (I didn’t catch the last name) participated in a talkback and noted not only the PTSD of the veteran character, Johnny, but also the “secondary PTSD” suffered by family members. He mentioned various resources available to veterans and recommended 1-800-michvet for help.
Oscar Quiroz simmered with intensity as veteran Johnny, under the stress of hiding his addiction from his unsettled wife (Lane Straub) who suspected him of being unfaithful with another woman, not with drugs. Brother (Advait Rathi) was wrenched between his loyalty to his brother, love for his brother’s wife, and duty to their father. Dad (Andrew Sang) was angry and confused, and probably part of the history of trauma for his sons. A welcome dash of humor was occasionally added to this dark mix by drug dealers Mother (Henry J) Apples (Madison Lemieux) Chuch (Gabriel Blaze) and Putski (Sam Dobrowlski) though they also augmented the darkness and danger of the piece.
The show takes place in the Studio 60 Theatre in the basement of the Auditorium Building on the south side. Go downstairs from either Fairchild or the Farm Lane side, down the south stairs and along that side hall. Studio 60 is next the the Arena Theatre.
You can get tickets at the door or at this link: https://commerce.cashnet.com/msu_3751
If you buy tickets online, they will be waiting for you at the door of the Studio Theatre. If buying tickets at the door, cash is not accepted. All tickets are $10.
Remaining shows:
Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 PM
Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 PM
Friday, September 30 at 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 PM