KEARNEY – University Theatre at Kearney is presenting a pair of one-acts from renowned English playwright Peter Shaffer.
Performances of “The White Liars” and “Black Comedy” are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Nov. 17-20) and 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 21) at the University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Miriam Drake Theatre.
“The White Liars” depicts a fateful encounter between a down-and-out fortune teller, a rock musician and his agent. The agent bribes the fortune teller to fake some hocus-pocus over a crystal ball, ostensibly to discourage the musician from pursuing his girlfriend. In the end, the trickery entangles each of them in a dense web of deception.
This play is directed by UNK senior Danny Grimm of Amherst.
In “Black Comedy,” lovesick and desperate sculptor Brindsley Miller has embellished his apartment with furniture and objects d’arte “borrowed” from the absent antique collector next door, hoping to impress his fiancée’s pompous father and a wealthy art dealer. The fussy neighbor returns just as a blown fuse plunges the apartment into darkness and Miller is revealed. Unexpected guests, aging spinsters, errant phone cords and other snares impede Miller’s frantic attempts to return the purloined items before the light is restored.
UNK senior Bryce Emde of Grand Island is the director for “Black Comedy.”
The performances run approximately 2 1/2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission. All seating is general admission. Face masks are strongly encouraged for audience members, but not required.
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Nov. 17-20) and 2 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 21)
Where: UNK’s Miriam Drake Theatre
Cost: Tickets are $10 for adults; $8 for seniors and non-UNK students; $7 each for groups of 10 or more; and free for UNK students with a valid ID. For reservations, contact the UNK Theatre Box Office at 308-865-8417 or boxoffice@unk.edu. Box office hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour prior to each performance.
Cast (listed by hometown)
Aurora, Colorado – Nathaniel York, Brindsley Miller (Black Comedy)
Columbus – Britney Kouma, Clea (Black Comedy)
Dawson – Zachary Allen, Frank (The White Liars)
Gering – Olivia Longmore, Sophie, Baroness Lemberg (The White Liars)
Grand Island – Jakeb Larson, Schuppanzigh (Black Comedy)
Henderson – Tobin Glinsmann, Colonel Melkett (Black Comedy)
Kearney – Jack Garrison, Georg Bamberger (Black Comedy)
Kearney – Tony Koetters, Harold Gorringe (Black Comedy)
Kearney – Rheann Marie Rodenbur, Miss Furnival (Black Comedy)
Omaha – Grace Loux, Carol Melkett (Black Comedy)
West Point – Mitchell Lierman, Tom (The White Liars)
Student Artistic and Production Staff
Amherst – Danny Grimm, director (The White Liars)
Grand Island – Bryce Emde, director (Black Comedy)
Kearney – Megan Coffin, assistant stage manager
Kearney – Rheann Marie Rodenbur, costume designer
Lincoln – Allyson Fricke, sound designer (The White Liars)
Meadow Grove – Angel Qualset, assistant stage manager
Omaha – Emma D. Emde, scenic designer/properties master
Riverdale – Trevor Altwine, stage manager
West Point – Mitchell Lierman, sound designer (Black Comedy)
Faculty/Staff/Artistic Team
Darin Himmerich, technical director
Del DeLorm, lighting designer
Julie Douglass, costume supervisor
PHOTOS BY ERIKA PRITCHARD, UNK COMMUNICATIONS
