Production shows feelings of life and death
By Maggie Beidelman
"Most of us spend our entire lives trying to forget that we're going to die," one of the key characters in the moving play, "The Shadow Box," says.
"The Shadow Box" is a drama that deals with the acceptance of death and the fulfillment of life as three different families struggle to make sense out of terminal illnesses and the passing away of loved ones.
"Death is something that's coming for all of us," said student Director Jenn BeVard, who is co-directing the show with faculty member Aldo Billingslea. This is a play about "people trying to figure out how to live their lives," she said.
"Part of the beauty" of this roughly two-hour, two-act drama said Billingslea, "is having 20-somethings confront their mortality."
The characters in this show emphasize the importance of taking a fresh, honest look at death, and thus at life as well. It is only through the acceptance of death, the play says, that one can truly live a satisfying life.
And it is healthy, Billingslea says, to not feel immortal.
As this is an ensemble show with no leads and a cast of nine people, BeVard finds it necessary "to engage an audience" in the characters' pursuit of truth and understanding.
With rehearsals beginning just a month ago, the directors are grateful and amazed at how things seemed to materialize before their eyes, with all the elements coming together "like a communal birth," described Billingslea.
Much love and dedication has been put into this show, as is obvious even in the orange and white hand-tiled floor of the set. A crew of tech, lighting, sound and costumers work closely with the cast, who rehearse Monday through Friday, four hours a day.
Even chemistry students wanting to take their frustration out on something can come pound in the nails on the set, said Billingslea. "The whole (theater) department pulls together" in such a way that probably no other department on campus can boast of such a close community, he said.
"I'm excited and a little anxious," said BeVard of the upcoming performances.
BeVard, who directed the one-act "Far Away" this year, clearly loves theater and all of its elements.
Even seeing the process of set building "brings tears to my eyes," she said, as it is a reminder of how hard everyone has worked and that her show will soon be presented in front of an audience.
BeVard described the goal of this show as allowing the audience to open up a space for dialogue about death. As one line in the show said, "this living, this life this lifetime doesn't last forever," and thus it is essential that we discuss death now so that when it comes, we are ready for it.
"The Shadow Box" provides a place in which to discuss life and death, to overcome fears, gain acceptance and learn to live one's life as if it will be gone tomorrow.
The strong feeling of community among the cast and crew of this show is especially apparent during their rehearsals. Everyone begins with a breathing exercise.
As they are instructed to relax and focus by taking deep breaths together, BeVard said the actors and crew become "united in those moments of breath."
After the breathing exercise, the actors almost immediately transform themselves into their characters, and it is as if no acting is taking place at all.
Rather, these characters are real people, interacting with each other as people do, touching the hearts of audience members who cannot help but become part of the story themselves.
One may find suspicious salty drops descending their visages as they exit the theatre after experiencing this production. Fortunately, these are not just signs of sadness. These tears represent a greater realization of the importance of truly living life.
"Don't spend life just thinking," is the suggested message. Rather, appreciate life, "never miss a sunrise or a sunset," and live right up to the next moment, that fraction of a second before that last fraction of a second, before you no longer have the chance to do so.
Contact Maggie Beidelman at (408) 551-1918 or mbeidelman@scu.edu.