The pool opens early this year as the Tony Award nominated play "Metamorphoses" begins Thursday at The University of Memphis. The play, based on Ovid, has been what some students in the cast have called, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"Metamorphoses" is performed by a cast of actors from both The U of M and Rhodes College in Memphis. Julia "Cookie" Ewing is a professor of theatre at Rhodes, and is serving as guest director for the production. Susan Chrietzberg, professor of theatre and dance at The U of M, has been very involved as well with this movement-oriented production.
The eclectic mix of students and directors brought several new elements to the actors' performances, as well as to the overall experience of the show. Although some of the actors admitted they had reservations about bringing in outside performers, they said it has been a blessing for the creative process.
"At the first rehearsal we just clicked," said Michael Frame, junior theatre performance major who plays several roles including Zeus and Hades in the production. "Bringing in different actors makes our performances different too, and we all just learn from one another," Frame said.
The group of actors has become a family of sorts during the rehearsal process. Tuesday afternoon, the actors performed several scenes from the upcoming "Metamorphoses," as well as various improvisations in the courtyard of the theatre building. This exercise was useful on different levels, the actors said.
"We just wanted to have art for art's sake," said Jason Bishop, junior theatre performance major. "It also served as advertising for "Metamorphoses" as students walked past."
These types of exercises have brought the already close-knit cast even closer. Aside from adjusting to new actors and a new director, the cast had another obstacle with a pool serving as the stage for "Metamorphoses."
Although the cast has been rehearsing for weeks, the pool has only been present for about a week and a half, according to Frame. The cast says the pool might have been a distraction, and they are thankful they had more time to get to know their characters as well as their fellow cast members.
Since the pool was constructed, numerous parts of the show have been restaged, and the actors kept trying new things within their performances. These changes and obstacles have not held the performers back at all, it has instead provided a catalyst for creativity.
"All the elements of the show keep you working like you should," said Ashley Davis, freshman theatre performance major. Davis plays several roles in "Metamorphoses" including the narrator.
Each of the cast members is thrilled about the opportunities this show has provided and they hope The U of M and Rhodes can continue working together on theatrical productions in the future.
Adair Snow, a junior film and video production major, has already had a sneak preview of "Metamorphoses." Snow is filming a documentary about the play and rehearsal experience and she was thrilled by the live production.
"Each story within the play is beautiful. The costumes, the lights, the whole show is just beautiful," Snow said.
The cast and crew of "Metamorphoses" could not agree more.
"We all knew it would be an adventure, we just didn't know much of an adventure it would be," Ewing said.
Dive in to "Metamorphoses" April 14-16 and April 20-23. All performances begin at 8 p.m. and are free to U of M students with their college ID.
