By Nadine Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: July 18, 2012
Four UFV theatre students—Cait Archer, Joshua Wilson, Madison MacArthur and Dylan Schroeder—have formed their own theatre group: Coup d’Etat. Coup d’Etat is in rehearsal for its first production, Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind (trans. Jonathan Franzon). The show runs from July 27–29 in the Rotary Hall at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. The play, originally written in German and first performed at the beginning of the 20th century, follows the lives of three teenagers as they explore their sexuality in a society where such things as teenage sexual desires are not discussed. In its first production, the play provoked public outrage, and when performed in New York in 1917, it was closed down as it was perceived to be obscene.
Dylan Schroeder is directing his company’s production of Spring Awakening. Schroeder graduated from UFV this June with an English major and an extended minor in Theatre. Spring Awakening is his first venture into directing a full-length play. Schroeder feels that the issues addressed in the play—abortion, homosexuality and rape—are just as controversial and relevant today.
Schroeder says that the company has overcome many challenges in putting together its first production, especially with a play that confronts so many sensitive issues. When asked about some of the main difficulties in producing a play like this, Schroeder mentioned that the compatibility of the cast was paramount. “The cast has to be comfortable with each other,” he said. This is important when staging some of the sensitive scenes, for example showing the “beginning of a rape.” It is a large cast. Its members are all between the ages of 19 and 25.
According to Schroeder, the play was chosen by Coup d’Etat because “it reflects the themes of the company.” Besides, Spring Awakening is Schroeder’s favourite play. He calls it an intense, powerful script and hopes that it “provokes discussion.” His wish is that the audience “comes away from it moved in some way.”
Schroeder’s experience at UFV was a good one; he finished having directed for several years in the UFV Theatre Department’s annual Directors’ Festival, and having acted in several plays, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Puck in 2010. When asked his advice for future students aspiring to get involved in theatre, he recommended Ian Fenwick’s playmaking class (Theatre 352 and 353). “Ian Fenwick’s been really helpful with everything,” Schroeder said, having assisted his group in getting Spring Awakening off the ground. Other suggestions included John Carroll’s (English faculty) playwriting courses (Eng 211 and 381).
Future production plans for Coup d’Etat are uncertain, but Schroeder and his group aspire to produce an original work. He explains this would mean writing a script independently and working on the playmaking together. But the other members of the talented group are also well prepared for this kind of creative and collaborative endeavor having benefitted, like Schroeder, from UFV Theatre program training.
Spring Awakening tickets are available through the Chilliwack Cultural Centre by phone (604-391-7469), online through their website, or in person, either ahead of time or the night of the show. Tickets are $15 for adults or $10 for students and seniors. Show times are Friday, July 27 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 28 at 7:30 p.m., or at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 29. Due to mature themes and sexual violence, only those 14 and older will be admitted.
