The University Theatre at Saint Louis University will present
two mainstage shows in the fall: one a drama, one a comedy, both
written by significant and contemporary playwrights.

“Far Away” is the season’s first offering, a play that Director
Tom Martin says is “intensely potent, but fairly short.” While the
script only takes 30 minutes to read, the performance’s duration
will be much more substantial, as the space between the lines of
dialogue is filled in with the language of action.

British playwright Caryl Churchill, who authored “Far Away,” is
“the most important playwright writing in the English language
right now,” Martin said at the University Theatre’s fall meeting,
which took place on Saturday.

The University Theatre’s performance of her work will provide a
glimpse into a reality far removed from ours: As the audience
follows the life of Joan, through maturation from childhood into
womanhood and later into married life, it becomes clear that the
parallels between Joan’s world and our own were not coincidentally,
but deliberately, drawn by Churchill.

“Far Away” is both concise and familiar in its presentation of
the blurred dichotomy between right and wrong, and in the
disillusionment one experiences when he or she feels as though
there is no one to trust. Performances are the first and second
weekends in October, beginning on Friday, Oct. 1 and ending
Saturday, Oct. 9.

“Rumors” is purely a farce, written by America’s premier comic
playwright, Neil Simon. He undertook the writing of “Rumors” after
finishing the trilogy for which he is best known. With “Rumors,” he
“wanted to get back to writing out-and-out comedy,” director Gary
Barker said.

The acute intensity of “Far Away” is relieved with this purely
comical and recreational delivery that takes place in the home of a
New York City deputy mayor. When he and his wife invite four other
couples into their home with the intention of celebrating their
anniversary, the party never quite begins. The host somehow manages
to shoot himself in the head, suffering only a flesh wound as a
result; his wife has gone missing, and in the midst of these events
the mayor’s lawyer creates a cover-up that becomes increasingly
difficult to maintain as the guests begin to arrive and try to sort
things out themselves.

Confusion ensues and brings laughter along with it. Performances
are Nov. 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20. Sunday mainstage performances start
at 2 p.m. and all other shows commence at 3 p.m. Call the Box
Office at (314) 977-3327 to purchase tickets.

While auditions for these mainstage performances took place
earlier this week, watch for announcements regarding auditions for
this fall’s studio performance. Senior Katy Vogt will direct
“WASP,” or White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, a Steve Martin play about
“the American family and human disfunctionality,” Vogt said.

Student-directed One-Acts will be performed in the studio
theatre the first week in December, and dates for these auditions
will be announced in the near future.

Fall theatre in brief

“Far Away”
Friday, Oct. 1
Saturday, Oct. 9

“Rumors”
Nov. 12, 13, 14
Nov. 19 and 20

SLU Theatre Box Office: (314) 977-3327