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(L to R) Senior Caitlin Nelson, seniors Sean Christensen, Ryan McDaniel and guest performer Kelly Pfeifer perform a scene during last Thursday's free preview showing of "The Dispute." The play was translated from French and directed by senior Tyler Morris and modernly adapted by senior CJ Krueger.

The age old dispute

'The Players' stage first theatrical performance of semester

By: Gillian Ekern

Posted: 9/4/08

The campus organization "The Players" has been around for a while but are really kicking it into gear this year with their production of "The Dispute."

"The Dispute" was written 264 years ago by French playwright Marivaux. Adapted by senior CJ Krueger, "The Dispute" is about four teenagers, two girls and two boys, isolated from society at birth and reunited after 19 years. Director and senior Tyler Morris noted the central theme of love and the more indirect theme of competition are quite prevalent in the play.

Two of the isolated children, Églé and Azor meet first and immediately fall in love. Though they have a difficult time understanding what each other are, they are fascinated with the world around them and pursue each other in a pure, childish way. When the other two, Adine and Mesrin enter the new world, real controversy and drama arise.

A prince and his lover, Hermaine, watch along with the audience as mature emotions play out onstage. The main point of everyone's observation is to see who cheats first.

The idea of surveillance and voyeurism are very important aspects to the play, said Morris. The voyeuristic nature of watching men fall in love with women, women fall in love with men, and the destruction that ensues will keep the attention of a college audience.

As each character meets the other, student actors express emotions ranging from apprehension and fear to affection, wonder and friendship. Jealously also plays a giant role, but the concept of love, "alone is a really strong element," said Morris.

The Riverside Theatre with its enclosed and dark space is perfect for making the audience feel as if they are watching a morbid social experiment.

"There couldn't be a more appropriate place for the play to be," Morris said. "I'll mix up where I sit each night just to get a different perspective."

Morris said he believes the play is about change and how much it hurts when it does happen. He also said that incoming freshmen have much to learn from the basic morals represented in the production.

Morris hopes new students at UW-Eau Claire will be drawn to the play, as it is one of the very first productions on campus this year. The freshmen discounted ticket price should also help.

"Our hope is it will encourage freshmen to see the show," said Morris. Most of all, "The Players" are a growing student organization and Morris said he wanted incoming students to know they can still have a place with them if not in the actual Eau Claire Theatre Department.

"Student Theatre can be really good and it's welcome to everyone on campus," he said.

Overall, the 10 member cast was very dedicated, spending three or four hours every night to get things together before the school year, guest performer Kelly Pfeifer said. Auditions were last spring and the performers had a relatively short time to perfect the act. Pfeifer also said that everyone had a blast and the overall mood of the actors was extremely upbeat.

Pfeifer said that though the play dates back many years it is still "very applicable to a college age lifestyle."

Morris said because everyone was working with their peers it was very easy to work together and connect at an important level.