THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9506020571
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
The Encore Players are tensed and ready to go - all set to bristle and badger.
The reason is Edward Albee. They are presenting a long diatribe he penned in 1962, ``Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?''
The play gives a quartet of performers the opportunity to explain the bitterness of marriage.
There are happy marriages around, but the two couples in this production are not in that category.
The disturbing thing about it is that, like it or not, admit it or not, a lot of the dialogue in this seat-squirming production will hit home.
``There's a little bit of all of us in the play's characters,'' said Mary Cherry, the director. ``The characters take it to the extreme with their mind games.''
The games come up after the alcohol goes down, the old theory being that drinking brings out the truth.
``Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' will be at the Little Theatre at Elizabeth City State University today and Saturday, and Thursday through next Saturday.
``It was my idea to do this play,'' Cherry said, sitting on the edge of her director's chair. ``Dramatically, it's a challenge. We haven't done a heavy dramatic play since `Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' two years ago.''
That was helmed by ECSU's director of drama, Shawn Smith who, this go-'round, is taking direction from Cherry. He is a college professor portraying a college professor.
``I spent a lot of time thinking about taking this part,'' he said. ``It's probably the largest role I ever had, and it's more demanding than `Hamlet.' ''
Albee's play runs for two hours. Smith rants onstage for all but 10 minutes.
``Physically and emotionally, it's a demanding role,'' he said. ``Artistically, it's rewarding - and that outweighs the hard work.''
Jim Roberts agrees. He is husband No. 2.
This is his first time onstage since high school.
``I wanted to do this because it's Albee,'' he said. ``It's a favorite show. And, I prefer drama to comedy.''
For three years, as a critic for the Elizabeth City Daily Advance, he has critiqued the efforts of local theater groups, including Encore.
Now, it's out of the audience and onto the stage in a production Roberts proudly calls ``reality-based.''
Most of the shows he writes about are, he notes, anything but.
``There are a lot of shows (in the area), especially comedies - not comedies, but caricatures,'' Roberts said. ``A lot are cartoons. This one is real - so much more challenging.''
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor met that challenge in their film version which, in 1966, managed to break a few taboos.
It worked. The movie received 14 Academy Award nominations, Taylor winning for best actress, Sandy Dennis for best supporting actress.
Onscreen and onstage, the material is definitely adults-only.
Leave the kids home, but bring your brain.
``In this play you have to figure out what's real and what's not,'' Smith said. ``Albee doesn't always tell you.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
THEATER PREVIEW
What: The Encore Players present ``Who's Afraid of Virginia
Woolf?''
Where: Little Theater, Elizabeth City State.
When: Tonight, Saturday; Thursday through next Saturday.
Cost: $5 at the door. There will be an opening night reception
with the cast.
by CNB