Brock students tackle ‘everything’ in new show
It’s a show about the Big Bang, today’s news, and everything in-between.
Brock University’s fourth-year dramatic arts students will tackle it all in their wide-ranging production of Ontroerend Goed’s “A History of Everything,” opening Nov. 30 at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in St. Catharines.
Director and part-time course instructor Neil Silcox says the Belgian play relates to each company member individually, while also taking in the big picture.
“It’s a history of the entire universe … all in 90 minutes,” he says with a laugh. “It’s sort of a backwards look through time. It starts with today’s date, we talk about the things happening in the news today and our personal lives, then we go back one day. Then a couple days.
“Every jump we go further and further back in time.”
Sound chaotic?
Sort of, says Silcox. While it covers millions of years, there’s still time to ponder just what it all means.
“It’s about the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows,” he says. “We really see the ways those things live close to each other, and I think that’s part of the beauty of the show. It asks us to see the ebb and flows of life.”
The show stars fourth-year students Leah Eichler, JuanCarlos Figueroa, Heather Janser, Emma McCormick, Geoff Turner and Colin Williams. Behind the scenes will be Alicia Bender, Whitney Braybrook-Byl, Andria Dearden, Holly Kurelek, Ryan Mahon, Tsipporah Shendroff, Mae Smith and Catherine Tait.
While the pace is “frantic” to start, Silcox says there’s a yin and yang to the story that becomes apparent as it dives further into history.
“It’s kind of like memory,” he says. “My memories of last week are full of things, and as go back further back in time, it simplified and purifies, and becomes slower and a bit more stately.”
Performances are Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 1 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5, available at www.firstontariopac.ca or by phone at 905-688-0722.