Murder mystery ‘Book of Days’ presented Mar. 8-17

"Book of Days" March 8-17 @ UW-Parkside.

Parkside Theatre, the award winning theatre company at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, presents the mystery "Book of Days" for six performances March 8-17. Lanford Wilson's intriguing study of murders and martyrs is staged in the Black Box Theatre of the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities at 7:30 p.m. March 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17. The campus is located at 900 Wood Rd. in Kenosha.

In the small Missouri town of Dublin, Ruth and Len Hoch work in the factory owned by Walt Bates with interference by Walt's son James. Ruth is cast as Joan of Arc in the community theatre's production of George Bernard Shaw's "St. Joan." As a storm rips through town, Walt accidently dies in a hunting accident. But is it an accident?

Calling the play a "gripping mystery," Parkside Theatre director Brian Gill said "Book of Days" skillfully explores themes of hypocrisy, ambition, loyalty, and the moral ambiguities of "the greater good."

"By running a parallel between Shaw's 'St. Joan' and his own play, Wilson shows us that being 'in the right' has always been a terribly dangerous place to be and that the truth often exacts a terrible cost," said Gill. "Using Joan's pursuit of the truth as her blueprint, Ruth seeks the truth of her friend's death, consequences be damned."

The cast includes Hayley Cotton as Ruth, Kenjamin Lafayette as Len, Joe Romanak as Walt Bates, and Michael Pfeiffer as James. Parkside Theatre veterans Michael Dalberg (as Boyd Middleton), Brenna Kempf and Rachael Sandlin in the roles of Louann and Sharon Bates, and Alex Metalsky as Sheriff Atkins are featured as are Brittany Bouche as Martha Hoch, Blaine Connor as Earl Hill, Ben Carlstein as the Rev. Groves and Olivia Kraus as Ginger Reed.

Brian Gill's crew includes student costume/makeup designer Katlin Kobernick, properties master Laura Chartrand, Holly Thompson, sound; co-projection designer

Chris Payne, and stage manager Mikayla Durkee. Student Bethanne Duffy is the play's dramaturge. Keith Harris and Kevin Nelson designed the set, Darice Damata-Geiger serves as costume lab supervisor, Michael Clickner is technical director, Jody Sekas is co-projection designer and design advisor, with lighting by guest artist Jake Bray.

Tickets for "Book of Days" are $17 for adults, $13 for seniors, and university faculty and staff, and $8 for students. They can be purchased online at www.uwparksidetickets.com, by phone at 262-595-2564, or at the ticket office in Brentwood Lobby of The Rita.

For more information, call 262-595-2457.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 3/1/2013

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