Theatre department presents Mark Twain’s “Is He Dead?”

O n the evenings of Oct. 30 through Nov. 3 the stage of Verser Theatre will show the play “Is He Dead.” The play stars students Lauren Godfrey and Greg Schwartz.

The cast has been practicing for around a month.

“We have a very fast turn around,” Godfrey said. “We’ve only had about a month to pull everything together, which has made it tough but do-able.”

On their last week of rehearsal they have been getting the final touches on the play.

“Over the past few days I think we’ve made some large strides in getting the show together,” Godfrey said. “We’ve added the set and costumes since fall break so we’re almost there. I’m excited about the days to come. I feel confident that we’re going to pull the show together and I know it’s going to be a blast.”

The play is not a gloom and doom one.

“Its the festival show” said Schwartz.” It is a riskier play, pushes more limits and crosses more lines.”

As a Mark Twain piece, the play is full of satire. The play is set in France and is based on a few strange situations which lead the main characters through an eventful plot.

“‘Is He Dead?’ is a farce and a melodrama wrapped into one,” Godfrey said. “It is definitely a comedy; I don’t think the audience is going to stop laughing.“

“I’ve had a wonderful time being a part of ‘Is He Dead?’ Godfrey said. “I’m really close friends with everyone in the cast and have enjoyed getting to know and work with our new theatre professor, Dan Inouye.”

“It’s very entertaining, fast paced,” Schwartz said.

The play has aspects that appeal to both guys and girls.

“It’s definitely not a ‘chick-flick’ in play form,” Godfrey said. ”It has comedy plus a little bit of romance, so I think it would be perfect for a great date.”

“Is He Dead?” has one thing to offer that students will never get the chance to see anywhere else.

“You get to see Greg Schwartz in a dress,” Godfrey said.

The play opens today at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Nov. 3. There will be a matinee on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $6, and it is a live performance.