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The Spectator
In the Watchfires
by Susan Stanton '09Arts & Entertainment Contributor
In the Watchfires, an original performance piece created by Christian Baxter '10, Chelsea D'Aprile '09, Nick Fesette '09, Romina Memoli Amador '09 and Susan Stanton '09, and directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre, Dustin Helmer '99, will be performed in Minor Theatre on Tuesday, May 12 at 8 p.m.
In the Watchfires is a theatre performance created in partial fulfillment of the Advance Topics in Theatre class. It portrays the very nature of war - the ugliness of defeat and the glory of victory - offering insight into what is attractive and what is repulsive about its causes and its effects. The play is a montage of scenes each inspired by historical texts from around the world, collaboratively developed and theatricalized by the entire class. In the Watchfires explores numerous perspectives on war, its perpetrators and its victims through the language of theatre.
In the Watchfires covers a range of topics including celebrating the military, genocides, World War II, assassinations, prisoners of war, the takeover of native civilizations and the Vietnam War. The performers also explore the ways in which war can become a theatricalized experience. Students in the class took important historical documents, images and their own thoughts on war and made them into thought-provoking pieces. The performance is a dynamic piece, which will make the audience laugh, gasp and truly think about their personal experiences with war.
The students will also be performing their piece in a closed performance as part of a Senior Day at a community facility for the Utica Public Housing Authority Resource Center. More than a hundred residents are expected to come and share in this theatrical experience with the students.
For more information about In the Watchfires or to reserve a free ticket, call the Theatre and Dance Office at 315-859-4057.