Curtain rises as two Luther productions take the stage

The Theatre/Dance Department had a busy weekend with the opening of its two new productions Nov. 7 and 8 in Jewel Theatre. Both “Square Stories” and “Reign” opened to full houses last Friday and Saturday night.

“Square Stories,” authored by Louis Jensen, translated by Professor of English Lise Kildegaard and directed by Professor of Theatre Bob Larson, started the weekend off, opening Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

With a cast of nine, a simple but dynamic stage design and pastel costuming, the production’s unique script of short stories took the spotlight. The actors told the stories and used their bodies to illustrate them.

The Square Stories are very short, often consisting of only a few sentences. Despite their seeming simplicity, they are cleverly written with deep insights woven throughout.

“When I write, I get a lot of happiness and I come very close to what is important in life,” said Jensen.

Jensen, who is from Denmark, wrote the stories in Danish, and Kildegaard spent much of her sabbatical last year translating them.

“I was especially drawn to the Square Stories because they have such wonderful narrative power, packed into such small, confined space on the page,” said Kildegaard.

Kildegaard sent some of the stories to Larson, who was also intrigued by them and decided to put them on the stage.

“One of the central ingredients of the Theatre/Dance Department is collaboration both within our department as well as without,” said Larson.

This was not the first time the stories have been performed, but it was a completely unique production.

“What an amazing thing to see the stories given voice and movement and song,” said Kildegaard.

Jensen attended the opening performance and was impressed with the way in which the stories were brought to life. He held a short discussion with the cast and audience after the show.

“It is easy to try and make a frame and try to put the stories into that frame,” Jensen said. “You kept them apart and it was wonderful.”

The production kept the audience laughing while sending everyone into a magical world where a rubber boot can watch TV and hills and roads dance together in the night, a goal that Jensen had when writing the stories.

“The most important thing in writing is not in the meaning, but in the music of the language,” said Jensen.

Saturday night brought the opening of “Reign,” an original dance work directed by Associate Professor of Dance Jane Hawley.

The movement piece explores four deep-set masculine archetypes: Sovereign, Lover, Magician and Warrior.

The cast consists of both men and women, and the costuming purposely blurs gender lines. Regardless of gender, the musicians and performers all wear dresses and exotic makeup while the “Secret Service” cast members are all in suits with their hair pulled back.

“Reign” is dynamic throughout, smoothly transitioning between each of the four archetypes. The choreography is at times subtle and simultaneously elaborate with many complex lifts.

“Everything that it represents is real,” said Rose Milligan (‘10), a performer in the piece. “I think everyone can relate.”

Inspiration for “Reign” came in light of the recent presidential election. The power struggles and gender issues were concepts that everyone was already exploring on their own, and “Reign” seeks to explore the issues further.

“The [masculinity] in politics is presently very interesting,” Milligan said. “Everyone is focused on gender issues.”

Hawley and Professor of Theatre Jeff Dintaman, who designed the sets for both “Square Stories” and “Reign,” collaborated with sculptor William Allen for this piece.

“I used the sculptures within the design and used them as influences in designing the other aspects of the scenery – giving them a space in which to exist,” said Dintaman.

The sculptures added to the performance are used as both set pieces and props during the performance.

“Reign” is unique and intricate, and because of its broad topic, the audience is free to take from it what they wish. No final idea is specifically laid out, and that empowers the viewer.

“If every person goes and they all have a different experience, then it’s worthwhile,” said Milligan.

Both Theatre/Dance productions are still running in the coming week. “Square Stories” will be performed again Nov. 14 at 9:45 p.m., Nov. 15 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m. “Reign” can be viewed Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 at 1:30 p.m. and Nov. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.