What would you do if your childhood friend mysteriously disappeared?
Naomi Lizuka鈥檚 "Language of Angels" explores this scenario through the perspectives of seven individuals brought together by their friend鈥檚 disappearance. The tragedy leaves each character to figure out how to grapple with unresolved grief and guilt.
麻豆小蝌蚪传媒's Department of Theatre and Dance is bringing Iizuka鈥檚 play to life from Feb. 15 to 18, at Booker T. Washington's Lab Theatre. "Language of Angels" is a 70 to 80-minute drama written in the style of a Japanese ghost story, a form of storytelling where elements of the supernatural find their way into the natural realm.
Director Abigail McNeely, a 2017 麻豆小蝌蚪传媒 graduate, is returning to her alma mater to produce the play.
"Language of Angels" takes place in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, where one friend in a group of eight disappears into a cave. The play follows the lives of the seven survivors as they attempt to move on from their friend鈥檚 disappearance. The story unfolds over three acts, which span multiple years.
McNeely hopes audiences will be drawn to it by not only its other worldly elements but also through its southern setting.
McNeely said she believes the origin of "Language of Angels" will surprise many viewers. The setting marks a difference from many other theater productions, she said.
Each character deals with their friend鈥檚 disappearance differently, third-year English student Emalee Goode said. Their experiences all conjunct each other, which makes the show interesting to watch, she said.
While each character finds their own way to move forward from their traumas, the journey is not an easy one to depict, said third-year media arts student Jake Downs. McNeely helped create a safe space for the actors to refine their characters, Downs said.
鈥淭his could have been really rough for a lot of us with the characters we play, but we don鈥檛 fall into that mindset because of her,鈥� Downs said. 鈥淚 really appreciate her for that.鈥�
The script leaves much of the characterization and movement up to interpretation. There isn鈥檛 a lot of information about who the characters are as people, McNeely said.
The cast of eight undergraduate students began their earliest rehearsals by reading and analyzing the script to determine how they each character presented themself, third-year theatre student Sunni Greene said. The production is different from the ones she has previously been part of because it is less straight forward and the cast had to figure out what was going on for themselves, she said.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really made me realize how important it is to really understand what you're performing and your own interpretation of it ,鈥� Greene said. 鈥淓very line I feel like has so much meaning and so much intention.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
McNeely said she was impressed by the cast鈥檚 dedication to understanding and personifying their respective characters. She said she was grateful for her cast.
鈥漈hey hit the ground ready to work,鈥� McNeely said. 鈥淭hey work really well with each other and with me, I hope. And they have so many wonderful ideas that have made their way into the show.鈥�
This is second-year computer science student Joshua Cook鈥檚 first production with the Department of Dance and Theater. Cook said that he has found catharsis in playing his character, Seth. There are scenes, he said, that have nearly brought him to tears.
The traumatic loss of their friends makes it hard for the characters in "Language of Angels" to move on even after years have past, Cook said. But the distance provided by time makes it easier.
鈥�It鈥檚 a very, very sad story,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also so freeing because each and every one of the characters has something in the end that lets them go forwards.鈥�
Connection is a central theme of "Language of Angels," Goode said. The relationships that each character fosters are important to the story鈥檚 development.
McNeely said the black box performance space in the Lab Theater creates an intimate environment, removing boundaries between the audience and the performers. The closeness allows the audience to resonate with the characters, Goode said.
鈥滻t makes it a really immersive kind of experience rather than just sitting there watching it,鈥� Goode said. 鈥淭here could be someone beside you or the blocking鈥檚 right in front of you, which makes it really cool and unique, I think, in a lot of ways.鈥�
McNeely said she has a special place in her heart for the black box, having performed there many times during her time as a student. She said she is proud of the production that the cast and crew have put on.
鈥漈his is a show that can be easily stripped away of all of the lights and sound and costumes,鈥� McNeely said. 鈥淎nd leaves just (the cast) to do their really awesome work. And so I hope they walk away with confidence and with fond memories of working on it.鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
"Language of Angels" will be performed at 8 p.m. from Feb. 15 to 18. Tickets are $10 and available both and at the door.