Spring Break
Powerful 'Pentecost' Moves Actors, Audience To Tears
Kaylah Baca
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Focus
As the cast of "Pentecost," bowed to the audience, tears were still gleaming in each of their eyes. They were emotional because of the harsh reality that the epic play portrayed.
While the cold kept some of the UConn community indoors, it could not deter anyone in the enthusiastic crowd from showing up at The Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Thursday, and for good reason. The play turned out to warrant a standing ovation with audience members anxious to discuss the many ideas and questions brought up within the play.
The epic play is one part thriller and one part artistic mystery. Written by a Tony Award-winning playwright David Edgar, "Pentecost" hosts a complicated plot that is meaningful since it refers to a lot of current world issues. Many different cultures are seen in the play as well, including Bosnian, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Mozambique, Roman and Kurds.
Though the plot is complicated, it is important because it covers a lot of real issues in the world. Having taken place after the fall of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe, it revolves around the Middle East and the attempt to try and modernize the area to mirror Europe.
"The plot is extremely complex," said Nick Dillenburg, a 3rd-year MFA acting candidate here at UCnn. "There is violence, intellectual discourse, human compassion and political intrigue."
According to Dillenburg, his character is uptight, very straight-laced and not in the least vulnerable, that is not until the end. He played his part very well and anyone could tell that he was passionate about the play.
"Pentecost" features cultural tensions and a major confliction between art and politics. One of the main struggles occurs among a curator, the two art historians and two different church officials. The next big conflict would take place when the three characters are suddenly taken hostage by a group of asylum-seeking refugees. The play becomes very suspenseful during this time.
While the cold kept some of the UConn community indoors, it could not deter anyone in the enthusiastic crowd from showing up at The Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Thursday, and for good reason. The play turned out to warrant a standing ovation with audience members anxious to discuss the many ideas and questions brought up within the play.
The epic play is one part thriller and one part artistic mystery. Written by a Tony Award-winning playwright David Edgar, "Pentecost" hosts a complicated plot that is meaningful since it refers to a lot of current world issues. Many different cultures are seen in the play as well, including Bosnian, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Mozambique, Roman and Kurds.
Though the plot is complicated, it is important because it covers a lot of real issues in the world. Having taken place after the fall of the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe, it revolves around the Middle East and the attempt to try and modernize the area to mirror Europe.
"The plot is extremely complex," said Nick Dillenburg, a 3rd-year MFA acting candidate here at UCnn. "There is violence, intellectual discourse, human compassion and political intrigue."
According to Dillenburg, his character is uptight, very straight-laced and not in the least vulnerable, that is not until the end. He played his part very well and anyone could tell that he was passionate about the play.
"Pentecost" features cultural tensions and a major confliction between art and politics. One of the main struggles occurs among a curator, the two art historians and two different church officials. The next big conflict would take place when the three characters are suddenly taken hostage by a group of asylum-seeking refugees. The play becomes very suspenseful during this time.
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