Dr. Woody Hood, a Catawba College professor of theatre arts and the director of Catawba’s upcoming production of “Far Away,” calls the play “a cautionary fairy tale” and describes it as “dark, scary, creepy and valuable.”
“Far Away,” by Caryl Churchill, will be performed at 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 and Wednesday, March 25, and at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 26-28 in Florence Busby Corriher Theatre on campus. The production runs only 45 minutes.
With a minimal set, lights and sound are of upmost importance to the production, Hood explains. He says nothing about the production’s costumes, except to describe them as a “surprise.”
London’s “Time Out” noted that “Far Away” and its three brief scenes recalled Pinter’s “Party Time” and Orwell’s “1984” and “Animal Farm.” The London “Sunday Times” described it as “an apocalyptic play” and wrote that it “packs the substance of several full-length dramas.”
Set in a land “far away,” the play will cause theatre-goers to ask, “Would I know when my civil liberties are being taken away?” and “Would I give them willingly?”
Cast members include Justin Tyler Lewis as Todd; Emilie Kuhar as Joan; and Eleanor Withrow as Harper.
Crew members include Professor Chris Zink, lighting design; Professor Woody Hood, sound design; Chris Baglio of Hubert, sound engineer; Allen Jones, set designer; Kathryn “Katie” Alexander, stage manager; Rob White, assistant stage manager; Meggie Bumgarner, costume designer; Claire Robinson, assistant costume designer; Quinn McRae, lead electrician; Zach McRae , lead carpenter; and Nicole Durant, hair and makeup designer.Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for all students and senior citizens. For more details, contact the Catawba College Theatre Box Office at 704-637-4481.