Here's an "Absurd to the Wise": go see the Princeton Triangle Club's 111th fall production this weekend at McCarter Theatre.
Full of laughs and rich in tradition, the performance is a must-see for every Princeton student.
Although it follows just two months after Sept. 11, the actors take the obvious attitude: the show must go on.
"We hope people will still be able to laugh, and the most important thing is that people go on with their lives," said Jessica Herling '03, director of campus publicity for Triangle. "We want to help them enjoy themselves."
The show is written completely by students, but three professionals work with the actors: a director, a musical director and a choreographer.
Both directors have worked on Triangle shows before and are seasoned to what makes one good.
"The show doesn't really have a theme, but a lot of the scenes are about language," Herling said. The title of the production alludes to that.
The show is following its usual format: comical sketches usually ending with a punch line interspersed with dancing and songs.
"Act One is a series of sketches making fun of anything and everything. Nobody's safe," Herling said.
This year Triangle is trying something a little different for Act Two. It's a one-act musical with a continuous plot and recurring characters.
"It's an interesting variety, but I think it'll work," Herling said.
Of course the famous all-male kick line is in there too.
It is being performed in award-winning McCarter Theatre, which hosts traveling shows often coming to or from New York.
Student writers began working in January on the show, and time commitments have been increasing ever since.
Auditions were held in late September, and rehearsals began soon after in Broadmead.
The actors started working on the McCarter stage last Saturday. This week, which they call "tech week," the cast and crew have been putting in five to eight hours a day.
The cast is an ensemble, meaning the actors can each have several roles. There are no leading roles.
"It's really interesting to see everyone add his or her own flavor, and it ensures everyone will get to know each other," Herling said. "We do a lot of activities outside of rehearsal like parties and cast dinners."
Triangle tested the waters for this show last school year by including some of the early-written sketches in their spring production, "Rude Olympics III."
Though the laughs are the same, "Absurd to the Wise" is a much more polished show.
The material is all approved by Triangle trustees and is suitable for touring.
Triangle will take the show on tour this winter break, hitting cities in the Midwest such as Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago.
They will also perform "Absurd to the Wise" at Reunions.
Because there are many performances on campus this weekend, Herling urges students to make time for everything.
"Make it a weekend of culture and see everything!" she said.
Princeton Triangle Club
"Absurd to the Wise"
McCarter Theatre Nov. 16-18 (609) 258-ARTSRead More
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