'Anatomy of Gray' Confronts Questions of Life and Loss
Alma College Theatre closes its 2010-11 performance season with “Anatomy of Gray,” a story described by its playwright, Jim Leonard, as “a children’s fable for adults.”
Performances take place at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14th, Friday, April 15th, and Saturday, April 16th and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17th in the Remick Heritage Center, Strosacker Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 62 and up, and free for Alma College staff, students, and youth 18 and under. Seating is reserved. Call (989) 463-7304 for ticket information.
After 15-year-old June Muldoon loses her father, she prays for a healer to come to her town of Gray, Indiana. Her wish would seem fulfilled when shortly thereafter a man claiming to be a doctor turns up in a hot air balloon caught in a tornado. When a plague just as suddenly strikes Gray, however, the doctor, June, and the community are forced to confront some big questions about life and loss.
Joshua Olgine directs “Anatomy of Gray.” Florida senior Nati Salgado is the assistant director.
“This play raises a lot of important questions,” says Olgine. “How do you deal with death or loss? Does God control all this, or does life just happen? The play’s author was actually commissioned by the University of Washington’s Medical School to write the play, and he used the assignment as a way of dealing with his friend’s death.”
The play has a little bit of everything, says Salgado.
“There are times when you’ll laugh with the characters, get scared with them, cry with them, cry for them,” says Salgado “The best part of the show is feeling the emotions of these characters. It definitely leaves you asking questions, and that’s the sign of a great play.”
The story takes place during the 1880s. Gowen senior Logan Ricket plays Galen Gray, Fruitport first-year student Emily Roberge plays June Muldoon, Findlay senior Tara Bouldrey plays Rebekah Muldoon, and Twining first-year student Graham F. Morgan plays Pastor Phineas Wingfield.
The play is significant to both Salgado and Olgine since this is their last time directing for the Alma College Theatre. Nonetheless, the two are eager for the performance to debut.
“The play captures this element of life that is chaotic, where things just happen,” says Olgine. “The ending is a bit ambiguous – it’s not a happily ever after fairy tale, despite it’s ‘once upon a time’ beginning, but it’s not without hope either.”
“This is a good story, one that has loss and love,” says Salgado. “In fact, it’s something June says in the play: ‘We all come from loss and from love.’ So, it’s truly a story everyone can enjoy.”
Posted: Thu, April 7th, 2011 at 8:25AM
