For the love of performing

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For all students involved, their passion for theater is reason enough to produce these two one-act plays.

Over the past five months, a small group of students have been a part of a unique collaborative theater production without the aid of a budget, access to the costume shop or even a professor to direct them.

The entire production, from the actors, the tech crew and the directors, consists of UVU students donating their time and talents for the love of performing.

The production consists of a double feature, The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter and Never Swim Alone by Daniel Macvor, directed by Scott M. Stringham and Alex Ungerman respectively.

Both plays are about a power struggle between two men and are classified as modern or post-modern pieces. The second play, Never Swim Alone, concerns two men, Bill and Frank, dealing with the same traumatic experience and how each of them cope with the residual guilt.

Junior Eric Phillips, a Kaysville native, plays the role of Bill, while sophomore Trevor Robertson plays Frank. Emily Barkdull plays the role of Lisa, as well as the mediator between the egos of Bill and Frank.

“It’ll take you in a lot of different directions emotionally,” explained Phillips. “It’ll be funny, it’ll be sad, [then] it’ll be dark, so it’s really fun.”

Robertson described the play as almost a cautionary tale: “It’s a morality play in that it’s a warning against obsession and competition and of being sure of what’s most important in life.”

Being a part of a student directed play offers a different experience for young actors.

“It’s a little bit more collaborative,” said Phillips, speaking of the differences from traditional productions. “It’s more of, ‘Let’s bring everything to the table and let Alex Ungerman have the final say on what goes’.”

Phillips commented that the amount of respect shown to the student directors is the same as is shown to professors.

“It is a different experience,” said Robertson. “Rather than being directed by someone who is your superior, it’s someone who is your peer.”

Robertson continued, saying it has been a more intimate experience, since he and Ungerman “are friends outside of rehearsal as well.”