'Saturday's Children' a perfect portrayal of the '20s
The play will run Tuesday through Thursday at the Corner Playhouse.
Published March 23, 2010
The year is 1927, and the MU production of "Saturday's Children," begins in the humble abode of Mr. and Mrs. Halevy, played by senior Alejandro Soto and sophomore Jordan Talbot.
Mr. and Mrs. Halevy are rarely seen, but they make a statement about the average household in the '20s.
Mrs. Halevy is a quiet woman seen sewing most of the time, whereas Mr. Halevy is a boomingly opinionated person who loves his daughters but wants more for them.
The Halevy family is circled around as their sly daughter Florrie (senior Michal Blackburn), discusses the future of her sister Bobby (sophomore Tammy Mullins).
Main character Bobby is the center of drama in "Saturday's Children," originally written by Maxwell Anderson. Audiences watch as she struggles to define herself in a world bent on forcing her to compromise her values and settle down with a man.
Florrie wants Bobby to settle down and resign herself to society's norm, just as she did. Bobby seems less interested in the idea of marriage and more in her career.
She eventually enters into a passionate love affair that blossoms into matrimonial life. But soon, both parties begin to feel trapped by their new duties as husband and wife. This is where the real drama starts.
"Acting in this play — it's a wonderful experience," Mullins said. "An exhausting, stressful, fantastic, thought-provoking experience."
From actors to costumes, the production of "Saturday's Children" was a feast for the eyes. Senior Lauren Allmeyer designed the costumes, and they set the perfect mood for the roaring '20s.
"Designing for this play, I learned to communicate the needs of the costumes to the actors whether they need a hat or a pocket to put their pipe in," Allmeyer said.
Allmeyer designed one of the costumes for Bobby. She wore a pink dress that made her seem the light of adolescence and innocence. This idea is later conveyed through her youthful and idealized views of love.
Along with the costumes, the set popped and drew the audience into scenes, making them seem like real emotions and events instead of scenes taken from a play. The house of Mr. and Mrs. Halevy stood out with the peach-colored wallpaper and rotary style telephone, which played into the environment of the time period.
Director Fonzie Geary said he chose this play because it is one of the lost treasures of the American theatre.
"One of the biggest challenges I faced was in getting the young lovers comfortable on stage," Geary said. "Being romantic with another actor is always difficult, assuming you are not romantic with them before you start."
Geary said another significant challenge with the cast of the play was making them familiar with the culture of the '20s.
"We devoted significant time in the early rehearsals reviewing the script and delving into the historical period," Geary said.
The primary similarity between the '20s and today is that a parent's main concern is about a child and their happiness. As the audience watches Bobby struggle through the trials and tribulations of love, her father and mother back her and encourage her to "have fun."
"Saturday's Children" will be performed 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the Corner Playhouse. Tickets are $7.