A family in which everyone is named Bobby Watson, a fire chief who spends his time searching for non-existent fires in London and telling stories that make no sense at all, and a doorbell that rings when no one is there – these are just a few of the absurdities which await audiences at the night of absurd theatre to be presented at Brattleboro Union High School on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17.
The BUHS Players will be presenting two absurd one-act plays: The Bald Soprano by Eugene Ionesco and The Zoo Story by Edward Albee at 7 p.m. on each evening in the school's auditorium.
Both plays are representative of the absurdist movement of modern, experimental theatre popular in Europe and the United States where what audiences see is at times hilarious and at times deeply disturbing. Absurdist playwrights force us to examine our lives and our customs while we ask ourselves what life is all about and what our very existence means.
The Bald Soprano features Clark Hamm, Vanessa Brown, Jason Guerino, Liam Reynolds, Theresa Underwood, and James Wood. It depicts two typically middle-class English couples who are enjoying a social evening together. What results is a bizarre parody of society, communication, and meaningless small talk.
The Zoo Story features Ian Epstein and Garrett Williams and reveals a chance encounter on a bench in New York's Central Park that starts out harmless enough, but turns into a disturbing life and death struggle.
Both plays are directed by Robert Kramsky with technical assistance from Hannah Paige. Tickets are $6 at the door. For more information, call 802-451-3762.