Vincennes University’s theater program will present “The Real Inspector Hound” this weekend.
Opening at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Red Skelton Performing Arts Center will be the play written by Tom Stoppard. A parody of a conventional stage thriller, the private lives of the critics become mixed with those of the play’s characters.
Jaclyn Zimmerman, theatre program adjunct professor and assistant technical director, said, “After a heavy tragedy like ‘Macbeth,’ we wanted to give our students a chance to dive into something lighthearted.
“We thought it would be a great way to let them be silly,” she said.
With a quick turnaround between shows, “The Real Inspector Hound” was chosen partly for its shorter length and for its unique narrative.
The play features a “play within a play” structure, allowing for moments of self-awareness that blur the lines between fiction and reality.
“It’s about being fun, and the students embraced that idea,” said Zimmerman. “We actually had our students read a couple of options and this one was by far their favorite.”
Zimmerman also said that students need to play in different genres. Tragedies like Macbeth can be taxing on the students, so having a comedic play is a great way for the performers to explore different setups and improvisation.
Ethan Frank, a theater arts major who is playing Birdboot, said, “It has been a lot of fun to portray a character who is the exact opposite of me, and I look forward to the moments where my character gets to play off the other critic and interact with the audience.”
Frank also mentioned that his role in “Macbeth” is quite different from the one he’s playing in “The Real Inspector Hound.”
“‘Macbeth’ was a much darker character, while in this play I embrace a role with more humor and comedic timing,” said Frank.
Frank added with a smile, “This play is hilarious.”
“We’ve been rehearsing for a month, and we’re still laughing at the same jokes so everyone should see it,” he said.
Performances will last through the weekend starting at 7 p.m. Saturday and the final showing at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Alumni, local citizens, current students, faculty, parents/families, future students, and staff are all invited to come and enjoy the show.
Tickets are $12 for general admission, $7 for seniors, and $5 for non-VU students. Tickets are free for VU students, staff, and faculty.
“I hope that the audience leaves the performance with a deeper reflection of reality itself, but at the end of the day we want people to laugh and have fun, ” said Zimmerman. “Also it’s Valentine’s (Day) weekend so it could be a fun date idea!”
