Prometheus throws audiences into the action
No scenes, props make Theatre II play unique
Posted on April 26, 2007
Theatre II’s newest production, “Prometheus,” started off with a bang as the doors flew open and audience members were ushered inside by the cast in a frenzy of excitement. The show took place in the Experimental Theatre, a black room with a circular stage in the middle.
The audience members were forced to sit or stand around the main performance area as the actors roamed amongst the crowd, often speaking directly to members of the audience and never losing their composure.
As soon as the audience entered the dimly-lit room and saw Prometheus chained up in the center of the circle, all voices fell silent and people stared in awe at the skinny man in rags chained to the ceiling. The grating of his iron chains on the floor served to mirror the harsh reality of Prometheus’s predicament.
For an hour and 20 minutes, the audience watched with somber expressions as the characters exuded pure emotion. The anger, passion and excitement in their faces and movements really gave the impression that the audience was in the presence of people from another time period, and the audience looked alternately solemn, thoughtful and slightly scared.
The eerie setting and lack of scenery or music served to emphasize the subject matter, as the characters debated Prometheus’ situation and the reasons behind it. With Prometheus nearly sobbing with emotion, the actors roamed the audience, creating a sense of unease and watchfulness. At times, the theatre seemed more like a haunted house than a stage.
Performances in Theatre II lack certain features usually expected with drama productions, such as chairs for the audience, an intermission and a backstage for the actors when they are not in the scene. This unique setting required the actors to remain in character for the entirety of the show, a feat they performed spectacularly.
There were no props used except for the chains and no scenery. There was very little real action at all and no music or dancing. The show relied solely on the dialogue and depictions of character, which was its greatest strength and fueled the show with energy. At one point the intensity of emotion shown in Prometheus’s darkly glittering eyes was enough to send shivers up the spines of many in the surrounding circle.
By the end of the play, the actors looked physically and exhausted from all the emotional outbursts. As the lights dimmed and the audience members began to stir, they were yelled at and pushed out of the room by the actors, who declared “The show is over – GET OUT!” and actually pushed people from the room.
Overall, the show induced feelings of unease.
“It’s hard [doing this type of show],” said junior audience member Jackson Thompson said. “This is really different from everything I’ve seen here before.”
He felt that the show really broke boundaries and that it’s main strength was that “the cast was really into it.”
The unique staging arrangement was not as much of a surprise to the theatre students in the audience.
“To be able to make the audience a part of the show is awesome,” Thompson said. “The goal was to be avant-garde. The fact that they tried is what counts – I admire that.”
Sophomore Jesika Hayes agreed with Thompson.
“This show definitely does a good job of throwing you into the scene,” she said. “It was very visually stimulating.”
The play, starring junior Asher Nicholson as Prometheus and directed by senior Kevin Hasser, will be showing all week in Theatre II for $3.