Cabaret down, 'To the Rescue' up next for UCM theatre
Bryanna Lindblom: Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: Life & Leisure
"Cabaret" may have just finished, but the University of Central Missouri's theatre department is already preparing for the next show. "To the Rescue" is a story about a young girl who is faced with a dilemma. When monsters kidnap her grandfather, she must choose to face her fears of the scary and unknown or live without her beloved family member forever.
Ashley Ayres, who plays the young girl Samantha, said she goes on a big adventure during the show with her bear, but the play is suited for both children and parents.
"Even though it's a children's story, we did a lot of adult elements in it, we keep it period," Ayres said. "There is lots of slapstick comedy. There is definitely some fun pop feature add-ins."
In the play, Samantha is 6 years old. With Ayres being about 15 years older than her character, there are many challenges this could pose. She said that although she has never played such a young character at this age; it is not as difficult as one would expect.
"I look like I've been 6 my whole life," Ayres said. "I try to think like a little girl."
However, Ayres did note that the biggest character challenge is altering her body to that of a 6-year-old.
Ayres also said the final result of her character and the believability of her character will come from not only her, but from other actors and actresses on stage.
"Collaboration will be a big thing with everyone involved," she said.
Along with the acting, there is much work that is going into the production of "To the Rescue". Assistant Director Becky Scrivener said they are not preparing the normal type of set.
"We're going for the cartoony, over-exaggerated look," Scrivener said. "One of our monsters is far from human in his costume and the way he moves."
Scrivener also said the set is plenty of work but does not have an excess of pieces. In fact, it is only made up of about five.
"It's pretty minimalist," she said. "There is a freestanding closet door, window, bed, door, and trunk. Throughout the show, they become transformed into things."
By transformed, Scrivener does not mean the play is a rendition of the movie that has robots that turn into anything. Instead, it is more closely related to a fantasy book.
"It all transforms from the imagination into anything she wants it to be, from a pirate ship, to a raft and all that good stuff," Scrivener said.
Ayres said the use of Samantha's imagination in creating different things plays a big role that keeps the whole show interesting.
"Things like laundry comes to life," she said.
Adults, don't be fooled by talk of monsters, a grand adventure with a bear and a 6-year-old's imagination distorting the set. Scrivener is planning on gaining the approval from those of all ages.
"It should be a delight for parents, as well as children," she said.
"To the Rescue" will be played Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 in Hendricks Hall.
Ashley Ayres, who plays the young girl Samantha, said she goes on a big adventure during the show with her bear, but the play is suited for both children and parents.
"Even though it's a children's story, we did a lot of adult elements in it, we keep it period," Ayres said. "There is lots of slapstick comedy. There is definitely some fun pop feature add-ins."
In the play, Samantha is 6 years old. With Ayres being about 15 years older than her character, there are many challenges this could pose. She said that although she has never played such a young character at this age; it is not as difficult as one would expect.
"I look like I've been 6 my whole life," Ayres said. "I try to think like a little girl."
However, Ayres did note that the biggest character challenge is altering her body to that of a 6-year-old.
Ayres also said the final result of her character and the believability of her character will come from not only her, but from other actors and actresses on stage.
"Collaboration will be a big thing with everyone involved," she said.
Along with the acting, there is much work that is going into the production of "To the Rescue". Assistant Director Becky Scrivener said they are not preparing the normal type of set.
"We're going for the cartoony, over-exaggerated look," Scrivener said. "One of our monsters is far from human in his costume and the way he moves."
Scrivener also said the set is plenty of work but does not have an excess of pieces. In fact, it is only made up of about five.
"It's pretty minimalist," she said. "There is a freestanding closet door, window, bed, door, and trunk. Throughout the show, they become transformed into things."
By transformed, Scrivener does not mean the play is a rendition of the movie that has robots that turn into anything. Instead, it is more closely related to a fantasy book.
"It all transforms from the imagination into anything she wants it to be, from a pirate ship, to a raft and all that good stuff," Scrivener said.
Ayres said the use of Samantha's imagination in creating different things plays a big role that keeps the whole show interesting.
"Things like laundry comes to life," she said.
Adults, don't be fooled by talk of monsters, a grand adventure with a bear and a 6-year-old's imagination distorting the set. Scrivener is planning on gaining the approval from those of all ages.
"It should be a delight for parents, as well as children," she said.
"To the Rescue" will be played Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 in Hendricks Hall.
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