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New Lord Leebrick production ponders religion
'The Busy World is Hushed' follows the life of an episcopal priest
by Tiffany Reagan | Pulse Reporter
The busy world is hushed.
It is a phrase that rings particularly true during the culmination of finals week.
It is also the title of the latest play gracing the intimate stage of the Lord Leebrick Theater.
"The Busy World is Hushed," written by Keith Bunin and directed by the University's own Joseph Gilg, had its Northwest premiere Friday.
The play, which will run through April 6, is about family, faith and the conflicts that arise between them.
Gilg said the show interested him because it deals with religion and the role it plays in people's lives.
"I was drawn to it because of the play's exploration of religion and the way religion works in the world," he said. "I think there's an obvious need for something of that sort within the human psyche."
"The Busy World is Hushed" centers around the relationships of an Episcopal priest, her son and her assistant.
The priest, Hannah, is translating the Nagamati Scrolls - said to have been written during the life of Jesus - into a book with the help of her assistant, Brandt.
Hannah's son Thomas comes back into her life after a long estrangement, searching for answers about his father's death.
For a further entanglement, Thomas and Brandt have an affair and fall in love.
"On one level, the play is about Hannah's academic research and this gospel, but the larger story is really about her relationship with her son," Gilg said.
The biggest challenge for Gilg was making sure the religious component of the play was accurate.
"We had an Episcopal priest at the performance last night who said it was very honest," he said.
The members of the cast, who Gilg said were professional in their attitude and work ethic, had about four weeks to put the play together.
"They are one of the reasons why we have been able to work so quickly," he said.
"It was really fun for me as a director in rehearsals to be able to suggest things and explore. The cast was very involved in the decision-making,"
Gilg said there were some very special moments during rehearsals of "The Busy World is Hushed."
He said his favorite was the first read-through because he was finally able to hear what was in his head come alive.
"I like the process. Once we get to opening night, frankly, I'm not interested so much anymore," he said.
"They always say, between the first rehearsal and opening night, the director is simply working himself out of a job."
treagan@dailyemerald.com
It is a phrase that rings particularly true during the culmination of finals week.
It is also the title of the latest play gracing the intimate stage of the Lord Leebrick Theater.
"The Busy World is Hushed"
| What: | A play about the role of religion in people's lives |
| Where: | Lord Leebrick Theatre (540 Charnelton St.) |
| When: | Running Thursdays through Sundays until April 6. |
| Cost: | Thursdays and Sundays $14 general, $10 students; Fridays and Saturdays $18 |
| Visit lordleebrick.com for more information | |
The play, which will run through April 6, is about family, faith and the conflicts that arise between them.
Gilg said the show interested him because it deals with religion and the role it plays in people's lives.
"I was drawn to it because of the play's exploration of religion and the way religion works in the world," he said. "I think there's an obvious need for something of that sort within the human psyche."
"The Busy World is Hushed" centers around the relationships of an Episcopal priest, her son and her assistant.
The priest, Hannah, is translating the Nagamati Scrolls - said to have been written during the life of Jesus - into a book with the help of her assistant, Brandt.
Hannah's son Thomas comes back into her life after a long estrangement, searching for answers about his father's death.
For a further entanglement, Thomas and Brandt have an affair and fall in love.
"On one level, the play is about Hannah's academic research and this gospel, but the larger story is really about her relationship with her son," Gilg said.
The biggest challenge for Gilg was making sure the religious component of the play was accurate.
"We had an Episcopal priest at the performance last night who said it was very honest," he said.
The members of the cast, who Gilg said were professional in their attitude and work ethic, had about four weeks to put the play together.
"They are one of the reasons why we have been able to work so quickly," he said.
"It was really fun for me as a director in rehearsals to be able to suggest things and explore. The cast was very involved in the decision-making,"
Gilg said there were some very special moments during rehearsals of "The Busy World is Hushed."
He said his favorite was the first read-through because he was finally able to hear what was in his head come alive.
"I like the process. Once we get to opening night, frankly, I'm not interested so much anymore," he said.
"They always say, between the first rehearsal and opening night, the director is simply working himself out of a job."
treagan@dailyemerald.com
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