Big City Playwright Joins GCSU Theatre for Performance
A big city playwright meets the antebellum south this week as the GCSU theatre department will present the world premiere of "Life is Mostly Straws" in Milledgeville.
The creator of the play, Richard Manley, flew down from the big apple to help the group prepare and hopefully send a message to viewers.
"How we balance the feelings of being alone or feeling inadequate. How we balance that with the need to feel like we matter determines how happy we are. And so the play is an examination of that through the lives of these two brothers," said Manley.
Manly traveled from New York City to join the GCSU theatre department in creating his vision of "Life is Mostly Straws" after the play won the Pillars Playwriting Award. The plot centers on the relationship of two very different brothers. One is a business man and the other a scholar.
"Something happens at the end of the second act that forces one of the brothers to question the relationship at this point insecurity and self doubt become major forces," said Manley.
The cast and crew spent the last six weeks fine tuning Manley's play and devoting tireless work ethic to the performance.
"Six to eight hours a day for six weeks so a lot," said the play's director, Iona Pendergrast.
Pendergrast enjoys having Manly work alongside the group and says it creates an intimate connection to the script.
"It gave us the opportunity to ask questions and you know when someone does Shakespeare they don't get to ask William. Why did you say this? What did you mean here? And so that's been really helpful for us," said Pendergrast.
Pendergrast complements the play's message, saying it relates to everyone.
The playwright uses human emotion and to pose a question to viewers.
"You've got to make a decision about whether you're more afraid to be alone or more afraid to be loved...In reality, it can be pretty scary to be loved because you're so vulnerable and it can be pretty scary to be lonely," said Manley.
The play begins Wednesday night at 8 p.m. and runs through October 2nd at Russell Auditorium. For tickets you can call the GCSU box office at (478) 445-4226 or click here for the GCSU ticket website.
