Lamar University’s latest production takes a look at family life but from very different perspectives.
“Next Draft: LU New Student Works Series,” opened April 9 and runs through April 12. The evening consists of two works — “Half Bloomed,” written by Bailey Jenkins, and “Scenes from Little Women: Story of March,” written by Cameron Durso and Sam Hatcher. The production is entirely student produced with playwrights, directors and actors all coming from the department.
The first half featured a staged reading of “Half-Bloomed,” a new play about a dysfunctional family. The mother, Anna (Piper McGee), and father, Sam (Jordan Albert), have a tumultuous marriage and clearly hate each other. The two oldest children of the house, Kayla (Sophia Dalpiaz) and Jack (Jorge Rodriguez), are stuck in the environment while dreaming of their own futures. Kayla wishes to leave the nest and go to college, while Jack is left trying to fix the family and take care of himself.
Anna and Sam are alcoholics who often rely on their children for emotional support and household chores. Anna wishes to divorce her husband, while Sam and Jack conspire to put Anna into rehab. Kayla is determined to go to school and rid herself of her homemaking duties.
The cast truly brings the family dynamic to life, showcasing the tension that hangs over the house. Jack and Kayla have a fleeting moments of happiness as they share their dreams, but they are few and far between.
Rodriguez has a way of making the audience feel bad for Jack, as we see all his dreams disappear as he ends up trying to fix the mess of his family.
McGee does a good job portraying Anna’s complex character as she alternates between being a loving and caring mother one moment and turning into a dismissive and manic wife the next.
Jenkins’ first writing effort shows promise and it will be interesting to see how this play develops.
The second play shifts radically in tone and time. Where “Half Bloomed” is contemporary and dark, “Scenes from Little Women: Story of March,” is based on Louisa May Alcott’s Civil War era classic, showcasing scenes from the original novel.
In this version of “Little Women,” we see the March family survive the year without their father, spending Christmas without him as he fights in the war. The family is forced to cope with Beth’s brush with death as suffers from scarlet fever.
Jo (Hatcher) and Laurie (Durso)’s infamous where they must reckon with their different views of their relationship heartbreaking. We feel bad for the usually charming and confident young man as he’s forced to cope with rejection and Jo is forced to hurt her closest friend.
Although I would like to see more of the vain and entertaining Amy (Caitlynn Hurt), the young cast makes the ups and downs feel enjoyable to watch as they showcase their chemistry throughout scenes.
The performances will have you on the edge of your seat from beginning until the lights dim, leaving us wanting more.
Showtimes continue April 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., and April 12 at 2 p.m.
General admission tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and staff, $7 for students and $5 for alumni. For tickets, visit lutd.ludus.com.