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Everyman for the modern man
By Elizabeth Harrington
J-Lab Staff Writer
Everyman is a 15h century Catholic morality play. It is also the up coming play at Corban College. So why was a play on the importance of good works and confession chosen for production at a protestant college?
“We have to compete with TV and movies, and 30 second commercials,” says director Jen Bailey. “We are in a visual world and [we are trying] to relate to people who are in the visual world.” So, in order to reach the audience, Bailey has chosen a play with a great deal of visual and artistic potential. “As a classic it was a little more abstract,” she says, “I can use abstract to be a little more creative.”
However, the original moral of the morality play is still Catholic. The first thing that Bailey needed to address was the script itself. The original script of Everyman has the main character, Everyman, saved through sacraments and good works. Since this message contradicts the protestant faith, Bailey asked professional playwright, David Ian, to modify it.
“In the play itself there are a lot of comments about faith and grace” says Bailey, “so we just highlighted it. So we didn’t change it; we just eased out and made the faith aspect a lot stronger.”
In addition to honing the message of the script, Bailey also asked Ian to flesh the play out by adding a prologue, epilogue, and various inserts.
“Everyman is set up like a dream with the prologue and the epilogue being the real world and the actual text of everyman being the dream,” explains Bailey. “In the dream sequence we are allowed to do whatever we want. We can add dance, and abstract lighting, and music.” With the script as a base, Bailey began to integrate the arts.
“Adrian Castillo is my artist,” says Bailey. “I met him at the Governor’s cup. A random day, so I know it’s by God.” At the Governor’s cup, Bailey introduced herself to Castillo. They talked for three hours, and Castillo shared some of his artwork.
“Immediately, it moved me,” Bailey says, “I knew he was talented and a gift from God.”
The artist’s job in the Everyman production is to design artwork for the costumes and visual media. (For those who are interested, Castillo will be Corban’s artist of the month in March, exhibiting a gallery of 12-14 “Everyman”-related pieces in the Psalm Center Gallary.) The other person working on the costumes is Shalla Colsen. “She is pretty much hand-making each costume. They will be stunning as well,” says Bailey.
Bailey also sought out full time Nike technician Billy Bork as the Technical Director, with the emphasis on lighting and sound.
“He’s definitely got a lot of gifts and talents,” says Bailey. She plans to use the device of a scrim for the stage backdrop. This method combines fabric screen(s) and creative stage lighting in order to create a variety of colorful ambiances.
The last artistic element that Bailey is integrating is her personal area of expertise.
“One of my favorites as a director and which I bring to pretty much every production is dance,” admits Bailey. “I think it says so much: combining music with the body.”
Using music composed and recorded by her husband, and the additional choreography of Corban student Jane Seigman, Bailey has choreographed everything from the ethereal angels to jazz-style demons.
So, with an artistic script, stage setting, costumes, and choreography, it looks like the cast, crew, and inspiration behind Everyman have more than a full course of work on their table.
“I like to do a challenge,” says Bailey. “I’m excited. I’m scared. I’m nervous. It’s a huge risk.” Though Bailey shakes her head, she is still smiling. “But I’m very excited. It has always been one of my dreams to incorporate many aspects of the fine arts. So, to have an actual artist with media, and theater-dance along with music, along with the show it has been really exciting to see it coming together.”
Even though she is excited about the artistic nature of the production, Bailey’s main focus is still to reach the audience.
“When you go to a performance or a show, you should walk away with something. As the director, that is my hope for this show.”
