“Middletown” relocates production to Monarch Hall

A relocation of set and stage will not stop the theatre department from delivering their performance.

By Asher Miles, Staff Writer

With no stage to present their production, and weather concerns looming, the theater department has resourcefully relocated their production of “Middletown” from the courtyard of the Campus Center to the Monarch Hall.

The second yearly production staged in the Monarch Hall is a contemporary piece from the Massachusetts playwright WillEno. Matthew Mcray will be leading the 12-person ensemble of Valley College students in the piece showcasing the lives of the “Middletown” citizens as they converge in bizarre and curious ways, culminating in a journey that takes them far from their local libraries and into outer space and points in between.

“To me the show is very existential in the sense of dealing with loneliness,” said first-year theater major Sami Keil, who is playing Mary Swanson, the newest arrival to the community. “The playwright said that the play is about the little ways that we show up for people that can make a huge difference.”

The production planned to host the show in the open-air courtyard of the second floor of the Campus Center, but were forced to relocate due to weather conditions. Although the cast and crew have been working to restage the show, they are looking forward to having the show go on.

“I’m sad that we have to move the set, but I’m happy the actors will still be able to perform the show,” said stage manager Marcus Nash. “I don’t believe it will have a huge effect on the show.”

“Middletown” is consciously modeled off one of the first “classics” in the American theatrical repertoire—Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town.”

Having source material from two critical American pieces of literature, Eno’s “Middletown” distinguishes itself from its inspirations. The first source material- al is “Our Town” by Thorton Wilder which themes dramatized the life cycle of everyday Americans. Robert and Helen Lynd’s “Middletown” studies were Eno’s second source of inspiration. The American sociologist couple came into prominence after releasing their studies on measuring the impact of the American Industrial Revolution in Muncie, Indiana from 1890 to 1924.

The spring play will be per- formed from May 11 to May 13 starting at 8 p.m. Tickets for “Middletown” can be purchased online on Valley’s web- site and at the box office check-in during performance days, however, seating is limited.

This in-person event is open to all current and prospective students, faculty, staff and the general public. For more information, please contact Jennifer Read at readjl@lavc.edu.