 "Photo: Nancy Rosenthal")
Despite having 50 brides and 50 grooms in the cast, "Big Love," the latest production by UT's drama department, isn't exactly about marital bliss. Instead, "Big Love" is the story of 50 women who flee to an Italian estate to escape from their arranged marriages. When their fiances follow them, the brides-to-be enter a pact to kill their husbands on their wedding nights, and the drama of the plot ensues.
Written by Charles Mee and loosely based on a classic Greek play by Aeschylus, "Big Love" provides contemporary social commentary on the conflict created by the different perspectives on love and relationships. Each character embodies a stereotype that demonstrates societal expectations about the institution of marriage. In contrast to the romantic Italian setting, grim and angry observations are made about love, relationships and especially the nature of the opposite sex.
The production is directed by Franchelle Dorn, who was inspired by Mee's interpretation of the human condition and the predictability of his characters.
"Everyone recognizes these types in the play," Dorn said. "My guess is that for each one of those characters everyone in the audience has either heard that line, believed that line or understands where it comes from."
The plot follows each of the principal characters in their specific relationship and puts a fresh spin on the classic battle of the sexes. Fiona (Xochitl Romero) and Constantine (Harrison Butler) have an undying hatred for each other. Oed (Chase Van Haselen) and Olympia (Sydney Andrews) are both apathetic and na've, but Leo (Tom Truss) and Lydia (Leslie Gurule) seem to be the only couple with a chance. These actors are all members of the department's Master's of Fine Arts graduate program.
The intensity of the subject matter is matched by the extreme physicality in the play. Dance-like movements, coupled with potent monologues and a slow-motion fight scene all strengthen the characters objections to societal pressures. The cast was encouraged to improvise the fight choreography to keep the scenes original.
With its themes of deviance, love, anger and rebellion, it is not hard to see why Dorn felt the play appropriate for the UT audience.
"It is very much a young person's play with the young characters in it," Dorn said. "There are people just starting out in relationships. It seems it would speak to a lot of people here."
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