William Inge, playwright of Lab Theatre's current production of "Picnic," wrote plays in the 1950s that opened in New York City and were made into movies featuring Hollywood starlets such as Burt Lancaster and Marilyn Monroe.

Before these big-city successes, though, Inge was a Boy Scout in the balcony of his hometown's Civic Center, watching plays with his troop after their many meetings.

In Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Picnic," Madge Owens (Carly Jones, drama sophomore) says, "It just seems that when I'm looking in the mirror, that's the only way to know I'm alive."

Inge reflects on his own small-town roots in this touching drama and shows he truly knew what it meant to be alive in a place where relationships around him were sometimes stiflingly close.

"Picnic" takes place entirely in a backyard shared by Flo Owens (Marion Glorioso, drama junior), the mother of two teenage girls and the landlord of a boarder, and Helen Potts (Jennifer Casteel, drama freshman), a doddering old woman who finds happiness in baking cakes and taking in handsome strangers.

At the beginning of the play, Helen takes in Hal Carter (Matt Carpenter, drama freshman), who becomes the hinge of most of the play's action because of the women's attraction to his mystery and charisma.

Sister rivalry, young love, giggling girlfriends, reunited fraternity brothers and a forced marriage proposal crowd the Lab Theatre's small stage in this new production.

This crowding of relationships is accurate to small-town life, so the intimacy of the theater heightens the intimacy of the production.

"Picnic" is the first play in the University Theatre season to put real emotion, stripped of symbolism and allegory, in front of the audience, likewise evoking real emotion.

One such evocative scene shows Hal, the sexy newcomer, teaching Millie Owens (Jill Klopp, drama sophomore), the rambunctious tomboy, how to dance like they do in the city.

1950's nostalgia fills the theater in this play as the languorous swells of jazzy music and playful swirls of Millie's party dress capture the audience's attention.

Inge let this fun scene disintegrate into heartbreak, temptation and revenge when Madge sweeps Hal away from her sister.

Then Rosemary (Amy Coldren, drama junior) tries to seduce the confused Hal.

This is exemplary of Inge's method of subjecting the audience to a dizzying range of emotion in a single scene.

This is an ensemble scene, and one of the strongest in the production.

Another touching scene comes when Madge's boyfriend (Alan Seymour, drama freshman) assaults Hal.

The execution of this fight scene is a little weak, but the dialogue and emotion are real.

If Inge were alive today, OU's Lab Theatre production of "Picnic" would probably surprise and please him.

He might wish Madge's floral party dress (pictured) could have been in his New York City production.

Inge might hope that more people could see his insightful play in a venue like the Lab Theatre.

"Picnic" will run 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Student tickets are $4. For more information, call the Fine Arts box office at 325-4101.
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