Theatre in the Time of COVID - A Director’s Note
Today I want to thank you for joining us for this production of Fuente Ovejuna. This is my 4th time directing at HU, and this piece holds a great deal of meaning for me. In the theatre world, when we are going to do a historical piece that predates 1850 it is a rare occasion. Even then it is usually one of the works of William Shakespeare, and it is almost always performed by a university. Such is the state of modern theatre as a commercial enterprise. Luckily through universities we do still have the opportunity to take the time and resources to explore our artistic pasts and, through this lens, our past as a species.
When Professor Ryan Long joined the HU community, she and I had a conversation early on about my future directing at Huntington. We hit it off and discussed many plays and her plans for the program. Eventually we got around to talking about if I have interest in directing historical dramas, and we found that we both hold this piece as a personal favorite. The question for many is “Why?”. Well, I will speak for myself. This piece shows us a glimpse of the idea that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and how by banding together a community can hold strong and overcome adversity. Despite its age this piece is still relevant through its themes. In it we see how the powerful can often oppress the weaker, how a governmental system can be good or bad depending on its leadership, and sadly, in the play and still in our world, we see how men can use their power to domineer women. So how can we overcome this? The play also shows us the route to a better society. We are stronger together. Whether young or old, male or female, Democrat or Republican; we are all human, prone to error and with fault. But when we band together, listen to each other, and support each other as humans, our community is strengthened.
My hope for all who see this play is two fold. One: Despite what was/is the most contentious election of my lifetime, I hope we come together and realize that we will not all agree, but our government is the people--not one man or woman. If we work together, we dictate the future of NE Indiana and the country as a whole. And second: Listen to women. Support them, believe them, follow them. Our world can be so ugly, but we can make it better; we can stop abuse and make future generations better than ours. This message of togetherness and the cathartic nature of theatre is more important now in our world of COVID than any time I can remember. Huntington, it has been my pride to be with you once again; please enjoy the show, and I hope to be with you again soon.
Adam Karal Sahli
