A provocative and socially relevant production opens on The University of Memphis stage this week.
"The Clearing," written by Helen Edmundson, was created in an effort to prove that history often repeats itself. This repetition is not always a positive thing, according to Edmundson and the creative crew behind The U of M production.
Set in the 1600s, "The Clearing" addresses the evil behind ethnic cleansing; an idea England was hoping to bring to Irish citizens after England defeated Ireland in a civil war.
Robert Preston and Madeleine O'Hart Preston are a married couple that experience a rift so large, their union may be permanently dissolved. Killaine Farrell, Madeleine's adopted sister, is kidnapped and Madeleine is given the daunting task of keeping her entire family intact.
Considering Madeleine is determined to help her sister and family, she meets with the sinister and conniving Governor Sir Charles Sturman, played by U of M alumni Eric Duerr. Portraying the role of the villain Sturman, according to Duerr, has been one of the most fun characters he's ever played.
"I describe him as George W. Bush meets Hitler with a bit of Martha Stewart thrown in," he said.
The introduction between Sturman and the Prestons serves as a turning point in the play, and the brutal and demeaning aspects of ethnic cleansing are brought to the forefront. These messages, according to Jennifer Bauer, director of the production, are still prevalent today.
"It is more of a timeless piece," she said.
This generation-spanning quality of "The Clearing" is precisely what Edmundson would have wanted. Although the play is set long ago, it was written in response to the Bosnian War, similar to Arthur Miller's classic "Death of a Salesman," which was written in response to McCarthyism.
"The audience will still be able to identify with people we know today. They'll be able to understand and appreciate where we are in history," Bauer said.
Even though many Americans are at a state of distress about the war in Iraq, the process of working on "The Clearing" has been still managed to be a positive experience, in light of the dark plot lines and characters.
This production is the second time Bauer has directed Duerr at The U of M, the first was last year's "The Serpent." Working with Bauer is a very rewarding experience for an actor, according to Duerr.
"Her vision is so clear and the way she voices it is so on-point that you're willing to help her tell this story as best as possible," he said.
"The Clearing" opens Thursday and closes next Saturday. Each of these performances is a near-guarantee to pose questions for audience members about current issues plaguing America.
"I hope audiences will realize how relevant and scary the story of these people is to the world we're living in right now," Duerr said. "It's a bare-bones, honest story that should resonate with people more than they expect."
All performances begin at 8 p.m. and are free to U of M students with a valid student ID. For more ticket information, contact the box office at 678-2576.
