2008 Woodie Awards
Cloud Nine
Lauren Newmyer
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Features
Although the play deals with heavy and often controversial issues, there is a fair share of comic relief tucked into the complex plot.
"This a very interesting play because it is part high comedy and part thinking man's drama, and you have to come with all of the parts of your brain working," Zerbe said. "One moment you'll be giggling and another moment you'll be shocked. It is a very complex play in its ideas, and in terms of Guilford's ethos, it's very much in line with what the college is trying to teach people about critical thinking about classes and races and sexes and homophobia."
Tickets for "Cloud Nine" are available for reservation in the lobby of Founder's Hall during lunch hours. Admission is free for Guilford students and $5 for anyone in the outside community. Students should be warned that the play does sell out and it is necessary to reserve a ticket in advance to be guaranteed admittance. Thursday nights tend to have lighter attendance, so they are the best bet for walk-ins.
The cast of seven and production crew of about 25 have been hard at work under Zerbe's direction over the past eight weeks.
"It's about 20 hours of rehearsal a week," Storey said. "This past weekend in Sternberger we spent 12 hours each night working. It's a lot of work but I think it's worth it."
The play has challenged the actors, who had to learn to speak comfortably in a British dialect. Beyond the accents, some of the actors have had to step slightly outside their comfort zones for their roles.
"One of the challenges has been allowing myself to be comfortable with (portraying a woman), and it was interesting to see that I was uncomfortable in the first place because I thought I was pretty open minded," Storey said.
"Cloud Nine" also presents technical challenges because it includes a lot of quick changes in costume and scenery including one scene where a male character leaves the stage dressed in black boots, jeans and a leather jacket and re-enters 33 seconds later in full Victorian women's garb.
The final challenge calls for the audience members to attend "Cloud Nine" with an open mind, and walk away with a deeper understanding of complex identities and the simultaneous pain and joy of challenging the conformity that society demands.
"It's really a play about learning to be comfortable with who you are," said sophomore Kevin Smithey, who plays Harry. "It's been an interesting experience for us and I think the audience will feel (the same way)."
"This a very interesting play because it is part high comedy and part thinking man's drama, and you have to come with all of the parts of your brain working," Zerbe said. "One moment you'll be giggling and another moment you'll be shocked. It is a very complex play in its ideas, and in terms of Guilford's ethos, it's very much in line with what the college is trying to teach people about critical thinking about classes and races and sexes and homophobia."
Tickets for "Cloud Nine" are available for reservation in the lobby of Founder's Hall during lunch hours. Admission is free for Guilford students and $5 for anyone in the outside community. Students should be warned that the play does sell out and it is necessary to reserve a ticket in advance to be guaranteed admittance. Thursday nights tend to have lighter attendance, so they are the best bet for walk-ins.
The cast of seven and production crew of about 25 have been hard at work under Zerbe's direction over the past eight weeks.
"It's about 20 hours of rehearsal a week," Storey said. "This past weekend in Sternberger we spent 12 hours each night working. It's a lot of work but I think it's worth it."
The play has challenged the actors, who had to learn to speak comfortably in a British dialect. Beyond the accents, some of the actors have had to step slightly outside their comfort zones for their roles.
"One of the challenges has been allowing myself to be comfortable with (portraying a woman), and it was interesting to see that I was uncomfortable in the first place because I thought I was pretty open minded," Storey said.
"Cloud Nine" also presents technical challenges because it includes a lot of quick changes in costume and scenery including one scene where a male character leaves the stage dressed in black boots, jeans and a leather jacket and re-enters 33 seconds later in full Victorian women's garb.
The final challenge calls for the audience members to attend "Cloud Nine" with an open mind, and walk away with a deeper understanding of complex identities and the simultaneous pain and joy of challenging the conformity that society demands.
"It's really a play about learning to be comfortable with who you are," said sophomore Kevin Smithey, who plays Harry. "It's been an interesting experience for us and I think the audience will feel (the same way)."
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