Over the next couple of weeks, the Department of Theatre and Dance will present “Middletown,” a play by playwright Will Eno.
Eno is an award-winning playwright based in Brooklyn. Another of his plays, “Thom Pain (based on nothing),” was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2005.
“[Middletown] is a meditation on the middle of things,” said Derek Davidson, Appalachian faculty member and director of “Middletown.”
“More philosophically, Will Eno, the playwright, was more interested in how we are stuck somewhat in the middle of things,” Davidson said.
We aren’t conscious when we’re born – for the first few years of our lives we don’t know much about the world. And then, of course, we don’t know much about what it’s like to die. We’re sort of stuck in this middle place.”
While the play focuses on characters in the middle of their lives, the themes are mostly universal and appeal to a wide audience.
“It has a lot of different levels for everybody,” said senior English secondary education major and assistant director Jonathan Green. “You can watch it and just get the base story, or you can dig deeper and discover philosophical views on life and death.”
The play features a very simple set design and resembles the happenings of everyday life similar to the play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder. It is driven by seemingly insignificant events which provide greater insight upon examination.
“Another really cool thing about the play is that while [Eno] is wanting us to look at the universal things and then move into the particulars, he does that with the characters as well,” Davidson said.
Because Middletown is a character-driven play, the actors and actresses have had to think on a deeper level in order to better play their roles.
“For me, [working with the cast and crew] has been awesome in the old sense of the word: awe-inspiring,” Green said.
Instead of being performed in the Valborg Theatre, “Middletown” will be performed in the I.G. Greer Studio Theatre, which holds far fewer audience members. The reason for the change in location is to give the performers experience with acting in a smaller and more intimate setting.
Because I.G. Greer can only accommodate a small number of people per performance, it will be showing for 10 nights instead of the usual five.
“It’s for everybody, but I don’t think everybody knows that,” Davidson said. “This is a quiet play. It’s deceptively complex.”
“Middletown” will be performing from Oct. 31 – Nov. 4 and then again from Nov. 7-11. Tickets will cost $8 for students and $15 for adults.
Story: CONNOR CHILDERS, Senior A&E Reporter
Photo: MAGGIE COZENS, Photo Editor