BYU-Hawaii began their Fall theater production season with the play “The Real Inspector Hound.” Written by British playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard, the play tells of two theatre critics who find themselves in the middle of the plot’s action. As a satire on the classic murder mystery, some of the events in the play-within-the-play start to parallel events in the lives of the critics. This featured production had a four night showing schedule from Wednesday, September 29, through Saturday, October 1.
Being the first produc
tion without Craig Ferre, former theater department chair and director for over 30 years having retired at the end of last semester and whose replacement will be arriving next semester, students have taken the roles as directors. Chris Cornelison and JennieLynn Jessop co-directed, being advised by faculty members Michelle Blimes and Stephen Hancock. Chris is an English major with a minor in creative writing, while Jennie Lynn is an Elementary Education major. Both bring experience performing as actors in several productions at BYU-Hawaii including having worked together during the last play production “Arsenic and Old Lace”. Yet this is their first crack at the director seats.
Chris’s thoughts about his directorial debut: “I’m so grateful to have the chance to try my hand at directing, even though it means I am not performing in the show. I feel like I’ve learned so much. … It’s very different from being an actor in a show; however, I actually think it uses a lot of the same skills that you develop as an actor. It just uses them in a completely new way.”
What both Chris and JennieLynn have experienced, despite initial hesitancy, taking on the directorial mantle is an “absolutely loving it” feeling. JennieLynn personally accounts their success due to the cast: "They all have so much talent that it made our job pretty easy. It's been so fun to watch everything come together and see how everyone has grown and how their characters have evolved.”
With their own r
ole reversals now being directors, they took the chance to flip the roles of the audience. For the whole performance the audience is seated on the stage facing the traditional auditorium seating and watching the action on stage and down in the traditional seating. JennieLynn says, “We did this to help the show feel more intimate and to enhance the fact that the characters switch spots from being in the 'play' or 'watching the play'.” Chris notes that the purpose of changing conventional seating was taken to “honor the absurdum and farce style of Tom Stoppard. ... It's fun to give the audience a completely different viewing perspective and turns the auditorium itself into a part of the set. We hoped it would give the audience a show-going experience unlike any they’ve ever had.”
Both Chris and JennieLynn felt honored given the opportunity from the English Department to continue the tradition of putting on a play every Fall. The English Circle and Honor Society offered refreshments at their pre-play event in McKay 101 across from the auditorium. Professor Stephen Hancock, head of the English Department and advisor to the play, was invited to conduct a pre-play discussion.
Writer: Parker Lovett | University Relations |
