Menu
Cottey College presents 'The Moors' Friday and Saturday
Cottey College intern
On Nov. 4th and 5th, Cottey College will present "The Moors," a play by Jen Silverman. "The Moors" weaves together tales of love and friendship with mystery and murder. The play follows two sisters, Agatha and Huldey, whose lives on the bleak English moors get sent on a dangerous path when a new governess arrives.
"The show is inspired by the Bront' sisters. It features two sisters, their dog and their maid while they tumble with love and power in a classic Victorian home," said Carley Bader, a second-year student playing the part of Agatha in the production.
"The Moors" has a dark, Gothic comedy twist, however, as it discusses death, a mysterious household and anxious characters. The odd tale leaves audience members on the edges of their seats as they wait for the next new shift in the story.
"This show is a dark, twisted Victorian-era drama that will leave the audience in shock. It is full of exciting twists: romance, betrayal, desperation and, perhaps, a song or two," said freshman cast member, Catherine Nolan. Nolan is playing the part of Emilie, the new governess who dives headfirst into the strange happenings on the moors, creating tension.
The sisters live in a world of instability with a large mastiff and a moorhen, a maid who goes by many different names and the governess, who is named Emilie. Not at all like traditional Victorian tales, "The Moors" is about love, desperation and visibility. The show is full of dark humor and mystery surrounding both the characters and the house itself.
"'The Moors' is a complicated show. It's about happiness, responsibility, and in a way, problem solving. To use the words of one character, Agatha: when one of the characters desires a result, they go and they get it. They use whatever means they can to get what they want or need. It's about looking out for yourself and leaving something behind," said Victoria Frazee. Frazee is a second-year student who plays the mastiff, a dog who is longing for friendship and acceptance.
As the play progresses, there is an exciting new twist behind every door. Just when the audience thinks that they have the show figured out, something else will happen to change that.
"Every time I thought it couldn't get more bizarre, it did, and it kept me entertained the whole time. Seeing this show isn't just seeing a play -- it's an experience that you won't likely get from another production," said Frazee.
While the show is directed by faculty member Laura Chaney, the rest of the production was worked on exclusively by students, including set design, costumes, makeup and lighting. This is the first time in Cottey's history that the design team has been entirely composed of students.
"We have student designers, stage and assistant stage managers and actors. This show is a true testament to the trust that our school has in us -- Laura has handed over the reins to her students and let us prove ourselves. Putting together something as big as this show for our community is a powerful thing, and I think the student involvement really shows how much is expected of us and how much we are willing to do," stated Frazee.
Despite being a small college, Cottey has given the students a great opportunity to discover their passion for the theatre during the course of the production of "The Moors," whether it is on stage or working on the technical side.
"Cottey's theatre may not have the big numbers that other departments do, but the professors are dedicated to teaching, and care very much about student growth, making the one-on-one training and hands-on learning in the theatre an impeccable experience," said Bader.
Students have been able to express themselves in a variety of different avenues in the theater, as the students discover new interests and gain a unique set of skills. Rising to the challenge, the Cottey students involved in the production have displayed their strong passion for the show.
"I want to grow my experience and my skills in theatre, so that's why I put in the effort that I do," stated second-year student Cheyenne Hensley. Hensley is playing a maid who bounces between different identities throughout the show, adding mystery and humor.
"The Moors" has given students the opportunity to better understand what goes into a production, including how to overcome any obstacles that may appear in order to ensure that they perform the show to the best of their ability.
"Cottey students are very driven and take pride in making our productions look fabulous," said Zoe Marshall, a second-year student playing the Moorhen.
This strong student passion and support from Chaney and the theatre department has allowed the production to be entered in the American College Theater Festival.
"The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF) is a year-round program in eight geographic regions in the United States. With funding and administrative support from the Kennedy Center, the regional chair coordinates all aspects of the assessment and selection of productions on the local and regional level and supervises regional-level KC/ACTF awards programs," Chaney said.
Two respondents will attend the production and give feedback to the director, actors and design team. They will determine whether or not they believe the show should be invited to be a part of the regional festival. Regardless of whether the play is selected to attend, the design team will be able to participate in a design expo at ACTF this year.
The hard work and dedication that has been put into the show by the Cottey students can be seen in the production of "The Moor"
The show will be performed on Nov. 4th and 5th at 8 p.m. in the Haidee and Allen Wilde Center for Arts. Tickets for the play are $5 for adults and $4 for those under age 18 or over age 62. Tickets will be available at the door or you may call the Cottey Ticket Office at 417-667-8181, ext. 2186.