FSU to Present "The Lottery" and "A Rose for Emily"
The stories of two small towns that harbor dark secrets come to life as the Fairmont State University Theatre Program presents two popular one-act plays, “The Lottery,” based on the short story by Shirley Jackson, and “A Rose for Emily,” based on the short story by William Faulkner.
The performance dates are Thursday through Saturday, February 23, 24 and 25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2 p.m. in the Wallman Hall Theatre on the campus of Fairmont State University. For tickets, call the Box Office at (304) 367-4240.
Both plays speak to a place where time stands still. In “The Lottery,” scripted by Brainerd Duffield, a small town is powerless to break from an ancient tradition. Each summer the residents gather to participate in a drawing that is said to ensure a plentiful harvest. “Lottery in June. Corn be heavy soon,” reminds one of the town’s oldest residents. Tessie Hutchinson, played Sarah Hinerman, arrives late to the festivities and is greeted with veiled criticism by her neighbors. “You wouldn’t want me to leave my dishes in the sink,” Tessie retorts as her husband Bill, played by Dustin Dilley, winces. Joe Summers, played by Dino Vergura, makes a careful count of the residents, and the lottery begins as each head of household draws a slip of paper from a box.
In “A Rose for Emily,” scripted by Joseph Robinette, a woman from a prominent family attempts to maintain tradition as the world passes her by. The town’s previous mayor has suspended Miss Emily’s taxes, claiming that her father once lent the community a significant sum of money. An aging Miss Emily, played by Bailey Kershner, refuses the new mayor’s attempts to collect her taxes as her town whispers about a long forgotten beau and a mysterious odor emanating from the once grand house.
The plays’ director, Dr. John O'Connor, Professor/Senior Level of Theatre Arts, said he is excited to bring these two classic short stories to life.
“The plays hearken back to the classic television series ‘The Twilight Zone.’ Their worlds are atmospheric places of mystery and suspense. If you listen carefully, you can hear Rod Serling introducing them, ‘Respectfully submitted for your perusal, another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, the Twilight Zone.’ ”
Appearing in both plays are Dilley, Hinerman, Kershner and Vergura, as well as Justin Allan, Madeline Giambi, Gary Hayes, Jacqueline Jelacic, Dominic Langdon-Arthur, Myranda McQuaid, Stephen Paugh and Kyle Stemple, all Fairmont State students. Additional cast members in “The Lottery” are Fairmont State students Paige Shircliff-Bowser, Tate Thompson and Samantha Young, as well as local youths Damion Hall, Loki Hall, Persephone Hall, Lydia Hatten and Paris Thomas.
School of Fine ArtsDepartment of Theatre and CommunicationThe LotteryA Rose for EmilyDr. John O'Connor
