Ginger Gilmore, a drama graduate student and director of The Memory of Water, will open her first full-length playat 8 p.m. Friday in The Lab Theatre at Old Science Hall.

The play also runs at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday andMarch 9 and 10, and at 2 p.m. March 11.

The Memory of Water is a drama and a tragic comedy about the complexity of the relationships between three sisters and their recently deceased mother, written by British playwright Shelagh Stephenson.

Gilmore said the play is typical of British comedy, which is a more dry sense of humor, full of verbal wit and sarcasm.

Gilmore said she fell in love with the play the moment she read it because it was absolutely compelling.She was attracted to the strong nature of the women in the play that come together to deal with their mother's death.She said the play is captivating as it reevaluates the women's lives.

The directing requirement for full length plays this semester was realism with an emphasis on strong women characters.Gilmore said she immediately thought of The Memory of Water and was ecstatic when she heard she had the go ahead to begin her work.

"I was scared to death," said Gilmore."I was like, oh my gosh, can I really pull off a full-length play?"

Actors Diana King, drama freshman, and Amanda Austin, drama senior, believe Gilmore has pulled her first play off quite well.

"Ginger is nice to work with because she gives us a lot of freedom and she tries to make what we come up with work," said Austin.

Austin said the play is centered around relationships that are typical of family banter.She said the audience will identify with many issues that are common among loved ones.For this reason, she said she is thankful for being given the freedom to develop her own character.

Gilmore said her cast members have been incredible and she is very fortunate to be able to work with such talented students.

"They make strong choices, which makes my job easier and is so important for them," said Gilmore."And I see so much of their personality in their parts."

King said she is thankful for the older cast members, from whom she has learned many valuable acting techniques.

"This has been a good experience for me and has taught me a lot," King said.

King said she thinks the subject matter of the play will hit close to home for anyone who attends.

"Everyone has a love for their family and their siblings," King said."We might not always get along, but we always come together when times get rough."

Gilmore said the play has been a strenuous test of her ability as a future director.She said there is so much more to deal with than her usual one-act or shorter plays, but she is very optimistic.

"Hopefully, this will be very successful," said Gilmore.


For more information about the College of Fine Arts, go to www.ou.edu/finearts.
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