University of Lethbridge student run theatre troupe TheatreXTra is excited to be completely student run for their latest production “1,000 Names.”
“1,000 Names” runs in the David Spinks Theatre, at 8 p.m. each night from Nov. 1-3 with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Students have always done all of the producing, directing, acting, promotions, set design and costumes for Theatre XTra productions but this time they are also using a student penned script.
“ Theatre XTra is completely student run, this time it’s the script from a student playwright as well. That’
s one of the things I love about Theatre XTra,” enthused director Hannah Rud.
“ And I had such a wonderful experience with Possible Worlds last year,” she continued.
University of Lethbridge student Chelsea Woolley wrote 1,000 Names and placed second on last year’s University of Lethbridge Prose and Playwriting competition.
“It’s about two families living somewhat different lives with difficulties during World War 2,” described Rud.
“ They are different, but this play shows how they come together. The play begins on an evening in 1940 and in 1941. An event that takes place in 1940 directly affects what happens in 1941, and I can’t say anymore without giving away a huge chunk of the script,” said Rud, who was drawn to the script by the strong female characters who are central to the story.
“I was attracted to it when I first read the script. The characters are very honest and very true. Most female roles aren’t very meaty,” she observed.
“The females really get to shine in this play,” she continued.
There are three female characters — Pearl, played by Natalie Buckley; Hanusia, played by Amelia McIvor; Rose, played by Becca McDonald. There are two male characters as well including Martin, played by Jeff Newman and Emrick, played by James McCarthy.
Rud had high praise for her cast.
“It’s coming together wonderfully. I’ve been completely blessed with this cast. They are there to lean on each other and they’re there to hold each other up,” she said.
“ People are always asking me what the biggest challenge is, well it’s having the right props on stage at the right time as well as the demeanour of the character because it switches back and forth between 1940 and 1941. So it’s about keeping that balance,” she said.
Two of the female leads are enjoying their characters.
“I am a 19-year old in the 1940s. She’s pretty sassy and stubborn,” described Amelia McIvor, who plays Hanusia Zelter.
Natalie Buckley’s character of Perl Margelies is the opposite.
“She’s a 40-50 year old widow in World War Two. She’s a classic subdued, older woman, but she’s pretty sassy and stubborn herself,” Buckley said.
McIvor is enjoying the mixture of comedy and drama in the play.
“Life isn’t 100 per cent serious or 100 per cent comedy. This is a good mixture of them both,” McIvor said.
“It’s about having to work for a relationship and who owns possessions before you own them,” Buckley added.
“None of the characters are 100 per cent good or bad. Everyone has their less amiable qualities,” McIvor said.
‘Perl is a very strong character, but it is about how hard she has to work to stay strong,” Buckley continued.
They agreed the themes on the play are timeless, even though it takes place in the Second World War, it translates to any era.
“It’s an emotional roller coaster ride,” McIvor summarized.
Buckley is looking forward to performing the play in front of the audience.
“I’m excited about the energy and life the audience will bring to the play,” she said.
“I just want to see if they find the stuff we find so funny is funny to them,” she continued.
Tickets for “1,000 Names,” which runs Nov. 1-3 in the David Spinks Theatre, cost seven dollars for students, $11 for the public. They are at the University of Lethbridge box office Monday to Friday 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. or by calling 403-329-2616 as well as online for the first time at www.uleth.ca/tickets
