EMU Theater Starts Off with Outdoor Play

Mark Troyer

A scene during a practice of "Laundry and Bourbon." The play will run October 5-7 and in a rare twist for EMU theater it will be performed outside at Thomas Plaza. The play is directed by junior Matt Pearson.

"Laundry and Bourbon" is a student-directed comedy revolving around the lives of three small-town women and their less-than-ideal marriages. It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-7, on Thomas Plaza of the Campus Center at Eastern Mennonite University.

The play, directed by EMU junior Matt Pearson, is set on the front porch of Elizabeth's (Erin Murray, junior) house in the midst of a hot East Texas afternoon. Elizabeth and Hattie (Erica Yoder, sophomore), a close friend, pass the scorching hours sipping bourbon and Coke, folding laundry and gossiping about secrets that are hard to keep in a dusty one-horse town. Later, the holier-than-thou Amy (Sarah Gant, freshman) joins the pair on the porch, bringing with her rumors about Elizabeth's husband Roy, and his dealings with another woman. Through the give-and-take banter of the three friends, moving from discontent to humor, Elizabeth's understanding of her love for her Vietnam veteran husband develops and she chooses to stand by Roy, despite what anyone else in Maynard, Tex., says.

Although "Bourbon" will be the first play directed by Pearson, he is no stranger to theater. His acting career at EMU has included a key role in "The Music Man" as well as impromptu acting in Gonzo Theater among other involvements. Most recently, Pearson spent Jan. through July of 2006 as an intern in the nation's capitol at Washington Improv Theater (WIT). He worked with some of the most talented improvisation artists in the country.

"My experience [at WIT] caused me to take a completely different look at comedy," Pearson said. "Comedy for me is no longer about getting a big laugh out of a joke, but to be a good storyteller that lets the audience relate to personal experience. There is a tremendous amount of comedy in truth."

Apparently, Pearson's experiences have prepared him well. He comments that he feels extremely comfortable in his role as a director, only that for this play Pearson is also overseeing costumes and set design, which has been overwhelming. "Yesterday, I worked over 11 hours on the set," he explains, "and it's still not finished."

As mentioned before, the play will be held on Thomas Plaza, the amphitheater in front of the Campus Center. Outdoor theater is rare at EMU and the setting is an interesting choice for "Bourbon." Pearson says that Thomas Plaza was chosen for its novelty, since a play has not been done there in years. The unique location is both exciting and scary for Pearson. The amphitheater is perfectly suited but at the same time, holding a play outside presents many challenges not faced by indoor theater. (In case of rain, the play will be held in Lehman Auditorium.)

Tickets to the play can be purchased either from the EMU box office in the university commons for $4 in advance (contact @ 540-432-4582) or at the door for $5.