By Amilah Richards '14
The Department of Theater and Dance will present “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” a farce by awarding-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl, Wednesday, Nov. 3 through Saturday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Yulman Theater. Department Chair William Finlay is directing.
The play focuses on the technology-obsessed Jean, who answers, as the title suggests, the cell phone of a dead man named Gordon. This awkward encounter forces her to face many of her life’s realities. The play eventually turns into an intimate love story.
“I would describe it as very abstract, animated and funny,” said Jackie Toop ’12, who is cast in the role of Mrs. Gottlieb, Gordon’s distressed mother. “The audience members are going to have to use their minds to get a sense of the scenery.”
Ryan Semerad ’13, who plays Gordon’s brother, Dwight, says the play is “nothing like mainstream theater. It’s more symbolic, like watching different paintings and motions tell a story. You have to really interpret them for what they are.”
In the lead roles are Shannon Vanderwalker ’11 as Jean and Benjamin Romer ’11 as Gordon. Jillian DeBono ’13 is The Other Woman and Robyn Belt ’14, Hermia.
Charles Steckler is the set designer, with Anne Woodward as stage designer and Steven Michalek, production manager and tech director. Brittany Belz, visiting assistant professor and Union’s new costumer, is in charge of the costumes.
Tickets are available at the Yulman Theater Box office Monday through Friday, 12:30-1:30 p.m. The cost is $7 with a Union ID and $10 for general admission. For reservations and information, call 388-6545.