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[ Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005 ]

Luck of the Amish
NRT brings strange humor with semester's first show

Collegian Staff Writer

Catering to those with an appetite for cheeseballs, Mr. Peanut and women with overactive sweat glands, No Refund Theatre indulges audience members' taste buds for incessant laughter.

The Book of Liz, No Refund Theatre's first production of the semester, is set to perform at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday in 111 Forum.

Written by David Sedaris and his Strangers with Candy sister Amy Sedaris, the play wanders haphazardly into the world of Sister Elizabeth Donderstock, from the Squeamish religious sect.

If you go
What: NRT's 'The Book of Liz'
Time:
8 p.m.
Date: Friday and Saturday
Place: 111 Forum
Details: Admission is free

Liz's journey by llama begins when her role in the cheeseball-making community is undermined, leaving the Squeamish behind for the free world.

"She kind of views herself as an important part of her community, but feels unappreciated. So, she decides to leave and explore the outside world," said Lindsey Dinsmore (sophomore-theatre), who plays Liz.

NRT, a completely student-run theatre group, performs a new show almost every weekend with an entirely different cast and director, said President Kasey Soska (senior-psychology).

"I think it [NRT] provides opportunities for students and the community to participate in theater," said Caitlin Cassidy (junior-theatre and secondary education), director and treasurer of No Refund Theatre. "It's much more casual for people who like to do theater, but who are not necessarily theater majors."

Liz comes from a society where Pilgrim-like attire, uncut hair and her recipe for cheeseballs have kept the Squeamish thriving.

PHOTO: Courtney Hughes/Collegian
PHOTO: Courtney Hughes/Collegian
Lindsey Dinsmore (left) and Rachel Ptak rehearse a scene.


"It's a parody of an Amish community. We're in the Pennsylvania community -- it's perfect," assistant director Sabina Ptasznik (junior-theatre and international studies), said.

Referring to the Bible's Book of Job and Job's quest to find God, Liz encounters an unexpected collection of characters ranging from recovering alcoholics running a restaurant to Ukrainian immigrants with British accents.

"I just knew that'd this really be a fun show to cast," Cassidy said.

But beside the off-color humor, The Book of Liz questions the stereotypes people share by poking fun at phony professionals, immigrant trailer trash, overly patriotic individuals and uptight religious followers, according to Ptasznik.

"All the characters are very absurd," Cassidy said. "We're lucky we'll never meet them in our lives, but they're so steadfast in their beliefs that I think we can identify with that."

In the end, those involved hope that audience members can also identify with the play's appreciation for someone's ties to home -- even if the home is Squeamish.

"We all leave home to go to college, but when you go back home you realize you have roots," Cassidy said. "And it's not bad to have roots."

Dinsmore agreed that it is difficult to play the characters because although the situations are ridiculous, the characters view themselves as behaving normally.

"It needs to be seen to be understood," Ptasznik said.


PHOTO: Courtney Hughes/Collegian
PHOTO: Courtney Hughes/Collegian
Jeff Piotrowski (left), Lindsey Dinsmore (center) and Kevin Haulihan (right) rehearse a scene from "The Book of Liz" which will be performed this Friday and Saturday night.
 

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Updated: Thursday, January 27, 2005  11:11:18 AM  -4
Requested: Thursday, August 21, 2008  6:44:19 PM  -4
Created: Wednesday, May 07, 2008  6:51:31 PM  -4