King's readies musical, Atwood play
Students highlight "contemporary" feel with [Title of Show] and all-female cast with The Penelopiad
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Like KTS' rendition of Antigone in 2008 (pictured), The Penelopiad looks at women's role in their world. Photo: Sydnee Bryant
In its 81st year and still going strong the King's Theatrical Society (KTS) is hosting a variety of characters and themes on stage this November.
Open to both students and the public, the plays are performed at the Pit and the Red Room.
First-year King's student and KTS actor Sean Young plays Jeff in the musical [Title of Show].
"Jeff is the composer and lyricist of the musical," says Young. He describes the character as someone who is able to joke around with his friends but takes himself seriously.
He adds, "his perspective on the creation of the musical kind of progresses as it goes along and he kind of just wants to enjoy the ride throughout it."
Young says "the musical itself is basically a musical that chronicles its own creation."
KTS Treasurer David Etherington is also producing the musical.
"Normally we do a really big, huge chorus production like Hair," says Etherington.
"This year it's just four people, so it's a much smaller, more modern, contemporary and lean show."
[Title of Show] is showing between Nov. 21 and Nov. 26.
KTS adds diversity to the season
Another play both KTS members are equally excited about is the society's rendition of Margaret Atwood's play The Penelopiad.
The Penelopiad is "a retelling of the Odyssey through Penelope's perspective" says Haritha Popuri who plays one of the 12 maids. She adds, "It focuses a lot on the relationship of her and her 12 maids who in the Odyssey, Odysseus has them hanged by his son Telemachus."
Popuri says to watch Penelope's "exploration of what happened to the maids and from having it from this perspective gives a different meaning to it."
The play is performed by an all-female cast.
"It's quite something to see a play with thirteen females. Of course I guess you can expect that from Margaret Atwood, but not that that's a bad thing" says Popuri.
The Penelopiad is being directed by Shannon Ireland and will be on stage beginning Nov. 15.
The season also includes Noises Off. Sean Young says it is "kind of like an English backstage comedy. So it's not really a plot-driven play, it's more jokey and accent-driven so I'm pretty excited for that." And Art, a play "exploring how just a decision can influence relationships."
The plays usually run for four to six shows.
The society is hoping to see between 200 and 250 people working on the shows throughout this season.
With a cost neutral budget, the KTS is looking to spend what they make on the shows. David Etherington says estimates between "$15,000 to $20,000 depending on what the new seat capacity for the Pit is."
King's Theatrical Society was founded in 1931 at the University of King's College.
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