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'£11111/ paints riveting picture
of famous poetess' love life
The University production
of ‘Wild Nights with Emily’
is a sexy, interesting portrayal
of Dickinson’s inside story
By Steven Neuman
Freelance Reporter
THEATER
REVIEW
Let's be honest. I don't usually find
19th-century poets to be all that riv
eting. All too often, modem plays
that attempt
to provide
an alterna
tive histori
cal perspec
tive on a
beloved cul
tural icon come across as preachy.
However, University Theatre's "Wild
Nights with Emily" manages the near
impossible: It turns what could easi
ly be another stodgy history lesson
about Emily Dickinson into some
thing sexy and a whole lot more
interesting.
The play tells the tale of
Dickinson's romance with her sister
in-law, Susan Gilbert Dickinson, to
whom Dickinson addressed most of
her letters/poems.
The hard work and light touch of
director John Schmor is readily
apparent and completely comple
ments Madeleine Olnek's classy
script. "Wild Nights" handles the
subject matter with simple grace by
focusing on the relationship between
Susan and Emily while still contrast
ing different interpretations of
Dickinson's life. The love and rela
tionship becomes the centerpiece
upon which all other characters and
concepts revolve.
Alexis Papedo, who plays Susan,
and Jana Schmieding, who plays
Emily, are both superb. Both turn
in such memorable performances
with their characters that the rela
tionship they create amounts to a
third lead role.
The most intimate moments of
the play are also the most diffi
cult. However, Schmieding and
Papedo's work sparks such an
uber-realism that it leaves the the
ater wonderfully electrified. They
also possess a shrewd sense of
comedic timing. For example,
Papedo's comic delivery of the
first line after Emily first kisses
Danielle Hickey Photo Editor
Jana Schmieding plays Emily Dickinson in the play "Wild Nights with Emily." The University
Theatre production runs through March 13 at the Robinson Theatre.
Susan ("Perhaps you have kissed
every man in town") is perfectly
toned to counter-balance the
drama, and this balancing act
holds fast for the rest of the play
as well.
Sarah Tumquist — who plays the
deliciously villainous Mabel Todd
(mistress of Susan's husband and
cast as the creator of the Dickinson
"spinster" myth) — takes on her
unenviable one-dimensional char
acter with great relish. However,
her attempts to bring any texture to
the flat character fall short. The
same applies to her counterpart
Austin Dickinson, played by Chris
Hirsch, who seems like a card
board cutout compared to the fully
realized Susan and Emily. In both
cases you can't blame Tumquist or
Hirsch, who are adequate actors;
the fault is clearly Olnek's.
The small cast of actors play a
vast assortment of characters and
bring a degree of charm to the
play. Blythe Daniels, Emily
Peterson, Steve Wehmeier and Ian
Armstrong bring the starchy New
England-style neighbors and rela
tives of the Dickinsons to life.
Collectively, their performances
buoy the piece.
The spartan score, written by
Jeremy Jennings and performed by
Ruth Ames and Amanda
Casperson in different combina
tions of violin, fiddle, harp and
piano, possesses the same quality
that feels authentically historic.
The work of the technical directors
and designers is brilliantly tied
together to create a cohesive feel
ing of time and place.
Jenning's score is matched by an
inventive set by Mary Jungels,
which seems to take sly cues from
period furnishings of New
England and fuses it with the
abstractions of landscape, space,
and impressions of Dickinson's
actual handwriting. This hand
writing also makes an appearance
in the sashes and folds of the cos
tumes designed by Harmony
Arnold, which are also historically
inspired but stylized in a modern
manner. Taken together, these
aspects of the production create
an ethereal and beautiful dream
world where history is interesting
and Emily Dickinson is in love."
"Wild Nights With Emily" plays
March 4, 5, 6,12 and 13 at 8 p.m.,
and March 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are
available at the EMU Ticket Office
or at the Robinson Theatre box
office. Tickets are $5 for University
students, $9 for seniors and
University faculty and $12 for
general public.
Steven Neuman is a freelance
reporter for the Emerald.
MCDONALD THEATRE
TRue music
Tickets at all 7fcfeetsl/l/est Outlets or call ^
(800) 992-TIXX Service charges may apply ^
Interactive show Information available at
All concerts will feature an opening band unless
otherwise noted Times subject to change
www.mcdonaldttaeatre.com
FOR BUCKLEY HOUSE
vwh sheuea jAmes mosiCBox
FRIDAY MARCH 19 JBSS!
Tickets at ah TicketsWest outlets (800) 992-TIXX Service charges may apply
LIVE IN THE MCDONALD THEATRE LOUNGE!
DJ DAIt-P-BCTTE FRIKSAT 8WU 81+1
2 WORKSHOPS FOR
• conscious relaxation
• concentration
• heart meditation
• breathing exercises
• mantras and music
Taught by Nandita Polissar —
meditator and instructor for 30
years; vegetarian restaurant
owner.
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