CNY THEATER

Community and Professional Theater News & Notes in Central New York

Even though Lanford Wilson's "The Rimers of Eldritch" is some 42 years old, the Syracuse University Drama Department's production, directed by Gerardine Clark, breathes fresh topical relevance into the play, especially when considering the past eight years of our national political atmosphere.

Hold on. It's not a preachy, political play, nor is it a forum for a political point-of-view. But it is a murder mystery on one level, and a social commentary on another, perhaps, more important level. With part of the folksiness of an "Our Town", seasoned with invective reminiscent of "Spoon River Anthology", "Rimers.." will test your tolerance for intolerance.

Hurray, it's finally here. Yes, I'm talking about the weekend. Time to play, time to get out, time to live! Here's what's going on in Theatreland.

Tragedy
The Rimers of Eldritch at SU Drama. Runs through November 23
La Tragedie de Carmen at the Redhouse in cooperation with the Syracuse Opera. This weekend only.
The Fever with The Black Box Players continues this weekend. Seating is limited, so arrive at least a half-hour prior to the performance to assure seating. Here's what they have to say about it. (Coruscating? I'm going to look that up....)
Lord of the Flies with Syracuse Civic Theatre at the Carrier Theater in the Civic Center.

SYRACUSE, NY -- Adapted by Nigel Williams from William Golding's allegorical novel, Syracuse Civic Theatre's stage production of "Lord of the Flies" does a credible job of translation of the various nuances of the now-classic tale of the disintegration of a society suddenly left without traditional authority, behaviors, and beliefs.

Part of the credibility exists in the casting of twelve boys, ages 9-13. In addition, much of the fear, at the heart of the novel, is communicated through the use of a creatively-designed set by Chris Heaphy and Debbie Ritchie, which consists of multi-level spaces indicating various parts of the play's locale. Add to that, lighting by Shane Preston and sound by Rob Cleland, and the mysterious, fear-inducing environment of Golding's tropical island is ripe for ruin.

Bring It On - for one, you've got cheerleaders (who are just dancers who've gone retarded). There's a love story, a competition, tension among friends, and a big finale performed to Mickey. This is Toni Basil's ticket to Broadway, if she hasn't already been there.

Syracuse University Drama

The Rimers of Eldritch by Lanford Wilson is about small town politics, harmful gossip, and how hypocrisy and viciousness are paradoxically seen as morality. Taking a satirical approach, the story exhibits how a town can destroy itself through severe criticism and judgment, carefully deconstructing the breakdown of the town through trials that parallel the breakdown of humanity through gossip.