"Taken in Marriage" Takes Seeler Theater by Storm

Author: Laura Rockefeller

This weekend in Seeler Studio Theater, five extraordinary women re-examined their experiences of friendship, passion, heartbreak, betrayal and hope in the first of this semester's two faculty directed shows, "Taken in Marriage."
The play, directed by Professor of Theater Douglas Sprigg, was very Chekhovian in that nothing ever really "happened" in terms of the plot, but the audience never lost interest in the interactions of between the characters.
The witty and very true comments made on life and relationships had audience members laughing and, by the end of the play, even crying with the unlikely mix of women they were sharing two hours with.
When the audience entered the theater, they encountered a set that reflected the women who would inhabit it.
It was not at all what it appeared to be on first glance.
Initially, one was struck by the gaudy decorations that had been hung for the upcoming wedding reception, but upon closer observation, it became apparent that the paint on the walls was peeling and the room itself was falling apart.
The wedding of Annie (Tricia Erdmann '03), the baby in the family, brought together her tough and cynical older sister from New York (Liz Myers '04), her well-intentioned but insecure mother (Marieka Peterson '04), her eccentric and astute aunt (Erin Kunkel '03) and a flamboyant out-of-work singer named Dixie Avalon (Kate Pines-Schwartz '03).
As the play progressed the characters' more repressed problems began to surface - including the fact that the older sister, Andrea, had been sleeping with Annie's fiancÈ - the family various members began to feel more and more drawn to Dixie's call to stop brooding on their problems and dance with her.
All of the actresses performed their roles with wonderful vibrancy and confidence, seeming to understand and to enjoy exploring the very complex and conflicted women they were playing.
Pines-Schwartz's performance as Dixie was particularly memorable, from the moment she came bopping onto the stage with boom box in hand to her final monologue.
Even though Dixie lied about an ailing sister in an attempt to con money out of the other women, the audience could not help but like her for her vivacity and good humor.
Her irrepressible comments during family arguments, and her willingness to listen, started both generations of sisters back on their way to reconciliation.
It was interesting to see how Dixie's view of the situation often colored the way the audience viewed the play, especially through the music that she would periodically put on the boom box or play on the piano.
The carefully chosen music helped to set the tone of several scenes, whether it was reflective with a lilting piano melody or celebratory with jazz blaring from the boom box.
The effect of the music also was interesting in that Dixie was clearly choosing the song to suit the situation, showing the audience not only her view of the conversation but also the scene she wanted to set.
The play was poignant, thought provoking and thoroughly enjoyable.
There was never a moment when one did not feel completely caught up in the plot.
It was true and heartfelt piece down-to-earth despite, or perhaps because of, the eccentric cast of characters.
Perhaps there was a little bit of each character in every audience member, making it easier to empathize with the characters' fears and hopes.