Purdue News
Purdue News
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March 17, 2000 Purdue Studio Theatre looks into 'The Dining Room'WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Once the vital center of family life, today's oft-neglected dining room is the focus of Purdue Studio Theatre's upcoming production of A.R. Gurney's "The Dining Room" March 30-April 2 in the Black Box Theatre, Creative Arts Building 3. "Hilarious and touching … as comic sketch crazily succeeds comic sketch, a whole pattern of American life emerges," a New York Post reviewer wrote of Gurney's play. Richard Stockton Rand, associate professor of theater, directs the production, which he likens to a museum piece displaying the decline of WASP culture. "Having recently left the 20th century behind, our theatrical experience is now informed by the fact that we are looking back at bygone worlds that we once inhabited," Rand said. "In the case of 'The Dining Room,' this separation offers us a degree of anthropological perspective and an opportunity to study and be entertained by the rituals and antics of a once-dominant American culture. So with a little theatrical sleight of hand, we hope to provide a frame through which to view this lovely little play on culture in our lovely little theatrical space. Welcome to our dining room!" Patrons are encouraged to arrive at the theater early for a brief anthropological lecture about the decline of WASP culture. The ensemble cast of "The Dining Room" features a company of undergraduate students in Purdue's academic program. As a group they portray a variety of characters, from small children to grandfathers. Each vignette introduces a new set of characters and circumstances, combining to create an evening of compassionate humor and abundant humanity. "The Dining Room" will be presented in the university's Black Box Theatre at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 30-April 1, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2. All tickets are $5 and are available at the Loeb Box Office, (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. CONTACT: Lori Sparger, Purdue Theatre marketing director, (765) 494-3084; theatre@purdue.edu
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