To open their season, the Connecticut College Theater Department is performing George Brant’s play Elephant’s Graveyard over Fall Weekend. The story is based on an incredible historical event: the 1916 hanging of an elephant – yes, an elephant – in a small Tennessee town (this is the only known case). According to the script, the story “[explores] the deep-seated American craving for spectacle, violence and revenge.”
In advance of the show, The College Voice wanted to learn more about the process and effort that went into bringing this story to life. The Voice spoke to Lana Richards ’16, Assistant Director, and Brittany Baltay ’16, Stage Manager, via email to learn more about what it took to produce such a unique show.
The College Voice: What have been some of the best moments in putting together the production of Elephant’s Graveyard? Some of the most challenging?
LR and BB: Time is always the biggest challenge when putting on shows at Connecticut College. We started rehearsing the second week of school, I think, so you always wish you could have more time to experiment and play with the show.
It’s been really exciting to work with Caz Liske, our guest director from Moscow. [Editor’s note: Cazimir Liske teaches at Moscow Art Theater, National Theater Institute.]
We’ve been doing these improvisational exercises called études that … most of us were unfamiliar with until now. It’s been a great learning experience to work with someone outside of our department who can bring a fresh perspective to the theater.
TCV: Without giving too much away, can you elaborate on some of the themes and messages you’re hoping the audience takes away after seeing the show?
LR and BB: In our society there is a large motivation to join the status quo or go along with majority opinion, even if that majority isn’t the “right” thing to do. This play addresses that sort of mob mentality as well as passive bystanders, and how dangerous those things can be, especially when left without intervention. The show depicts a community in crisis, which was partly why the show was chosen in the first place – in response to the events surrounding race that happened on campus last spring.
TCV: What are some of the more unique aspects of this show that sets it apart from other productions Conn has put on in the past?
LR and BB: For one, the staging is pretty different from a show you might normally see at Conn. It’s not the typical living room drama or period piece. The script allows for a lot of creativity in terms of movement and staging, so there are a lot of really exciting and dynamic moments, sometimes more like choreography than regular stage blocking. Also the whole cast is going to be in black and white makeup. In general the design for the show is pretty spectacular; we’re still in tech right now putting the elements together but you can already tell that it’s going to look great.
There will be four shows, all in Tansill Theater: October 9 and 10 at 7:30 P.M. and October 10 and 11 at 2 P.M. Tickets are available in Tansill one hour prior to the performance or at the box office in Palmer.
Additional reporting by Dana Sorkin ’16. •
