By: Christa Burns, Junior staff writer
Auburn University at Montgomery Theater students performed an original production, ART IRL (In real life), this past weekend. The performance consisted of pieces from various songs, plays, and movies the student performers chose, compiled into one show.
The production featured many art forms, such as dance, poetry, song and monologue. The show’s highlight was a selection from the play Blood at the Root, written by Dominique Morisseau and performed by Michael James Pritchard and Tiara Staples. According to Concord Theatricals, Blood at the Root is a “striking new ensemble drama based on the ‘Jena Six,’ six Black students who were initially charged with attempted murder for a school fight after being provoked with nooses hanging from a tree on campus.” The scene depicted an altercation between two characters regarding a racial slur used inappropriately. The way Pritchard embodied the role so quickly was impeccable. Theater AUM will be performing Blood at the Root this semester. Be on the lookout for dates and details by visiting aum.edu/events.
The most unique aspect of this performance was how the audience was snatched into the world of the specific piece without any context or emotional preparation. One moment, we were in the living room watching a married couple have a challenging conversation. Then, we were immediately dragged into a Shakespearean monologue from one of his famous works.
Atticus O’Banner also did a fantastic job with his performance of ‘You Gotta Die Sometime’ from the play Falsettos, which conveys the feelings of the character Whizzer, who had been diagnosed with HIV in the 1980s, a time when there was little to no knowledge about the disease.
According to Genius.com, “Whizzer reflects on his impending death as he sits alone in his hospital room. There is a quiet power as Whizzer faces his diagnosis of AIDS and worsening condition with the desire to exit with dignity.” O’Banner chose this piece because of the song’s impact on his life, “When I was in the process of questioning my sexuality and coming to terms with who I was, I was listening to that a lot. It really just became a part of who I am.”
Overall, the students performed exceptionally well individually. However, the set and choreography during the transitions from each selection seemed out of place. The set was empty, except for two scaffolding on either side of the stage. During each scene, the performers would climb the scaffolding in ways that were unrelated to the piece that was being presented. O’Banner stated that the scaffolding was there to help the audience create an illusion and use their imagination to set the scene for themselves. Even though it created necessary movement throughout the play, the performance would have benefited from something more creative that could have complemented each selection better.
Despite the very small critique, ART IRL was very enjoyable to watch. For more details on upcoming performances, visit Theatre AUM’s Instagram page or aum.edu.
