Theater Department presents one act dating comedies

Submitted Photo

 

An aunt setting her niece up on a blind date and a man trying to propose to his neighbor’s daughter; this is what to expect in the upcoming productions of “Blind Date” and “A Marriage Proposal” at Oklahoma Christian University.

“A Blind Date” has first year students Clarice Sutton, Madison Simmons, Luke Maxwhirter and Alex Wiggs in the cast. “A Marriage Proposal” and also has Alex Wiggs, Luke Maxwhirter and Madison Simmons in the cast. Carly Conklin, a 2010 Oklahoma Christian alumna, directed both plays.

Director of the theater program, Phil Reagan, stated that the two plays would give a different glimpse of dating.

“It’s a view of dating in a humorous way,” Reagan said.

“Blind Date” is about the drama that ensues when a girl who does not care for dating is set up on a blind date by her aunt.

“It turns out to be a funny experience,” Reagan said.

“A Marriage Proposal” is about a man who is going to propose to his neighbor’s daughter, but before they get to the proposal, end up arguing.

“It’s a very funny play about arguing over little things,” Reagan said.

Reagan said students should see the school plays because it could be a fun and entertaining experience.

“They’ll be entertained to enjoy seeing some of the new freshmen who are performing in this,” Reagan said. “Most of our cast are new freshmen this year. They’re going to get a chance to see some of the newer talented students that we have here on campus. But also, just the most important thing is that they’ll not only get entertained, but they probably will be made to think a little bit too about the dating and the marriage thing.”

Conklin is not only the director, but she also decided which plays to direct.

“Dr. Reagan contacted me a few months ago and he told me kind of what I need for it, we’re going to do a short play, so we can have a short rehearsal period so I started looking for one acts,” Conklin said. “I found two one-acts that kind of seem related in a way, cause they’re both about marriage and the pressure that young people who want to get married and so that seemed like kind of a relatable theme, especially with OC. I wanted these plays to relate to the audience.”

Conklin said even though the plays are set in the late 1800’s through the late 1920’s people, particularly Oklahoma Christian students, can relate to the two stories.

“There are a lot of differences between our society today and the society the plays are portraying, but I also think there are a lot of similarities,” Conklin said. “So I think that’s kind of fun for people to come and watch something that, even though it happened so many years ago, can kind of pick out the things that are kind of like, ‘oh, I relate to that.’”

As the director of both plays, Conklin said that her cast has been doing great so far.

“I’m working with a really young cast,” Conklin said. “I actually have all freshmen, without even realizing that it was happening and they have all really, really stepped up.”

First year student, Madison Simmons is a part of the cast in both plays portraying Sarah Nancy in “Blind Date” and Natalia in “A Marriage Proposal.” She has enjoyed working with her fellow cast members, especially a small cast.

“The cast is delightful, I love them,” Simmons said. “I love being a part of a small cast, since we’ve all kind of bonded and have a good chemistry. With that many people it gives us more time to work together and build on those relationships.”

Simmons said the plays could be enjoyable for every student at Oklahoma Christian.

“They are going to be hilarious, they’re going to be so entertaining.” Simmons said. “They aren’t like a serious drama that you go to because you appreciate theater, they’re for anyone who wants to be entertained.”

Simmons is not a theater or communications major, but has enjoyed her time as a first-year student in the theater department.

“It’s easier than I thought it would be,” Simmons said. “I’m just a part of the show because I like theater and thought it would be something fun. It’s definitely been interesting trying to go to that science mentality to more of communications acting, but it’s really rewarding. I think acting’s kind of a good break from my academic day.”

First-year student Gabrielle Underhill is interested in seeing the school plays.

“Something about the theater, it’s really uplifting and fun and kind of gets your mind off of stress,” Underhill said.

Underhill’s attention was drawn to the posters that are in the Garvey center, which is how she found out about the school plays. She thinks that the school plays are worth seeing.

“I think if everyone’s working really hard to go on and put on a production then they should go,” Underhill said. “You know you can definitely go support your friends. It’s a good social event, too.”

Students can see these two comedies on Oct. 2, 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. in Judd Theatre. Admission is free for students. The cost is $10 for people outside of Oklahoma Christian and they can purchase their tickets at the box office or online at oc.edu/blinddate. Each play is 30 minutes long and there will be a 15-minute intermission between the two plays.