TODAY · All day
How to Grow the Cowpea: Survival Strategies from the U.S. South
Visual Arts Center, Art Building (ART)
TODAY · All day
The Visit
Thursday, October 29 at B. Iden Payne Theatre, F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN), Austin
About this event
By Friedrich Dürrenmatt Translated by Maurice Valency Directed by Sunghyun Lim The Visit opens on a small, dismal town as they prepare for the arrival of a mysterious millionairess – a former inhabitant whom they hope to win over as a benefactor. When she arrives, cloaked in grandeur, and offers to share her millions, the townspeople are ecstatic. That is, until they learn the condition of her generosity: the town must murder one of their own. Written by celebrated German-language dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt, and translated by Maurice Valency, The Visit weaves a macabre, grandiose and at times hilarious tale investigating the power of greed and desperation and the lengths one will go to seek justice. TICKETS: https://tadticketing.thundertix.com/events/264701
Who's playing
The cast is UT Theatre and Dance students, and the director is Sunghyun Lim. Lim is a theatre director and playwright from Seoul and an M.F.A. directing candidate at UT. His work is described as tearing apart myths and confronting nasty realities, which suits this play. The script is Maurice Valency's translation of Dürrenmatt.
What to expect
The play is a grotesque, often funny story about greed and desperation. It follows a town that slowly reshapes its morals once money is on offer. The production includes depictions of revenge, contract killing and human trafficking, plus a prop firearm and loud noises simulating gunfire. Runtime is about two hours and 45 minutes with one intermission.
Why go
Dürrenmatt's story is a classic of postwar European theatre, and it asks how quickly people and institutions bend their principles for their own benefit. The Payne is the department's largest house, a 475-seat proscenium theatre on the east side of campus. Seeing a mainstage student production here is a good way to catch a serious play in Austin.
Where
B. Iden Payne Theatre, F. Loren Winship Drama Building (WIN) · 305 East 23rd Street · Austin TXDirections
