The School of Theatre and Dance will begin the Mainstage season with "Phoebe in Winter," October 3-6 at the Canady Creative Arts Center.
Written by award-winning playwright Jen Silverman, the dark comedy explores the story of two brothers, whose return to normalcy after combat is disrupted when Phoebe appears on their doorstep. She claims they killed her brothers and demands they become her new family, reigniting a once-distant war inside their home.
“'Phoebe in Winter' offers rich social commentary as a micro-narrative set against the macro themes of belonging and war, the power dynamics of gender roles and the pursuit of truth and order in a world of perpetual chaos,” said Radhica Ganapathy, the play’s director and associate professor of theatre at WVU.
Promotional poster for "Phoebe in Winter," designed by Abigail Montgomery.
“It is an absurdist piece; it is a response to realism,” said Amanda McGovern, who plays Phoebe. “It examines the human condition in its own unique and powerful way. I hope that audiences really embrace the nature of the play.”
McGovern said the play challenges cast members to perform multiple roles within the same performance.
“As the characters fight for power and status throughout the play, the roles continue to change,” she said. “We see gender roles being challenged with this. It is also a challenge for the actor who is playing a character that fills many different roles in the family throughout the course of the show. Costuming comes into play with this as well to further define what character is filling what role within the family at any given moment. “
One of the primary family roles is Jeremiah, the oldest brother and war veteran, played by Jonathan Carpathios.
“The cast of characters all have ‘stake in the game.’ This makes telling the story fulfilling from many creative angles,” Carpathios said.
“I have enjoyed exploring the intricate relationships between characters with my castmates,” McGovern said. “Each character in this play is so uniquely their own person, and watching my fellow actors bring their characters to life has been inspiring to witness.”
The play's relationships, humor and commentary encourage audience members to continue exploring its themes after the final bow.
“The power of this play is how thought-provoking it is,” Carpathios said. “I hope people spend their post-show dinner and drinks discussing the work. There is always more to discover with plays like this one, on and off stage.”
“Phoebe in Winter” will premiere in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre on October 3 at 7:30 p.m., with additional performances on October 4 at 7:30 p.m., October 5 at 7:30 p.m. and October 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at wvuccam.universitytickets.com.