LC show delves beneath surfaces
By Casey Gillis on Oct. 11, 2007
Small-town life is at the center of Lynchburg College Theatre’s latest production, “Book of Days.”
Missouri-born playwright Landford Wilson’s newest play is set in the fictional, highly religious enclave of Dublin, Mo., and “it involves the storms of small-town life that lurk beneath the surface,” says director Jeff Wittman.
As the action opens, the community theater folks in Dublin are preparing to mount a production of Shaw’s “St. Joan” when a prominent citizen dies mysteriously. Another citizen, Ruth Hoch — who takes on the persona of Joan of Arc — investigates to find out if it was an accident or murder.
“This small ‘religious’ town can easily resemble any town in America, and you find yourself being drawn into the characters and their secrets,” Wittman says. “It’s a mysterious, fascinating look into the heartland of America.”
Wittman says it’s been awhile since they’ve done a current modern American play, especially one like “Book of Days,” which was written to include a series of quick, overlapping scenes.
“The play is a series of small realistic scenes that take place in various locations around the town,” he says. “We have a unit set to help the flow of the scenes. Many projections and sound effects imaginatively move us from one place to another.”
The play opens Oct. 18 in LC’s Dillard Fine Arts Center Theatre (see box for details). The play has adult themes and language, and is not recommended for those 18 and younger.
IF YOU’RE GOING:
—WHAT: Book of Days
—WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 19 and 20, and 2 p.m. Oct. 21
—WHERE: Lynchburg College’s Dillard Fine Arts Center Theatre
—TICKETS: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors over 60 and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the LC Box Office, which will be open weekdays from 1 to 5 p.m. beginning Oct. 15. The box office is only set up to receive cash and checks.
—INFO: (434) 544-8380
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