It is 1916 in Erwin, Tenn., and you will not believe your eyes. The circus has come to town!
But live performance can be a risky business. As jugglers and acrobats parade through the streets, Mary, a five-ton Asian elephant, kills her novice rider. The crowd screams. The crowd shouts. The crowd calls out for blood.
“Mary was the star,” says Jeffery Matthews, professor of the practice in the Performing Arts Department in Arts & Sciences. “But the town wants retribution.
“They decide to lynch the elephant.”
Acknowledging our history
Mary’s fate is the subject of “Elephant’s Graveyard,” a startling contemporary drama — based on historical events — by playwright George Brant.
“It’s a fascinating story,” said Matthews, who will direct “Elephant’s Graveyard” Feb. 26-March 6 in Edison Theatre. “The threads go out in so many directions. It’s about the way we treat animals. It’s about the technology of killing. Its about the reactions of the townspeople. Some are horrified, some are thrilled. They think ‘this will put us on the map!’ ”
And then, of course, there’s the elephant in the room …
The play unfolds as an act of collective memory. The Clown, the Trainer, the Ringmaster, the Marshal — all take the stage, introduce themselves and share impressions of the fateful day. Witnessing and frequently correcting their testimony is The Hungry Townsperson, so-named for her ever-present bag of peanuts.
“The Hungry Townsperson doesn’t romanticize or elide the past — she remembers things as they were,” Matthews said. “And I think that’s an idea the play asks us to reflect on. The past is part of us, it surrounds us today. What we remember shapes who we are.
“We feel deeply for the elephant,” Matthews said. “The elephant is abused. Like the Trainer, we know the death is really not her fault. But as the Hungry Townsperson observes:
“’Nobody talks about how they hung colored boys in Erwin. They just talk about how they hung an elephant.’”
Cast and crew
The cast of 15 is led by Jacque Randolph as the Hungry Townsperson, Joe Holley as the Ringmaster and Zach Hyams as the Trainer. Gemma English is the Ballet Girl. Ethan Evans is the Strongman. Michael Maley is the Tour Manager.
Taylor Jordan Brantley is the Muddy Townsperson. Katie Simons is the Young Townsperson. Robert M. Kapeller and Keary Watts are the Clown and the Preacher. Ben Harvey is the Engineer. Joshua Parrack is the Steam Shovel Operator. Danny Washelesky is the Marshal.
Noah Berkowitz is the Drummer. Jonathan Freeman performs on guitar and harmonica. Provost Holden Thorp performs on standup bass. William Lenihan, director of jazz performance, performs on accordion.
The circus-in-the-round set design — which will bring the audience onto the Edison stage — is by senior lecturer Rob Morgan. Costumes are by Robin McGee, with assistance from Chloe Karmin. Sound and lighting are by Jon Zielke and Ricardo Solis.
Henry Palkes is musical director. Assistant director is Zack Schultz. Stage manager is Savannah Throop, with assistance from Hannah Lillioja. Props master is Emily Frei.
Tickets
“Elephant’s Graveyeard” begins at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26 and 27; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb, 28. Performances continue the following weekend, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5; and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 6.
Performances take place in Edison Theatre, located in Mallinckrodt Center, 6465 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are $15, or $10 for students, seniors and Washington University faculty and staff, and are available through the Edison Theatre Box Office.
For more information, call 314-935-6543 or visit edison.wustl.edu.
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