The OU Helmerich School of Drama’s production of "Everyman," a student-directed play about the life and death of an allegorical man named Everyman who represents all of mankind, will debut April 26.
"Everyman" was originally published as a 15th century morality play in which each character personifies a moral quality — like evil or charity — or an abstraction — such as death. Morality plays gained momentum in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries and sought to teach audiences moral lessons in order to persuade people to pursue a godly lifestyle and resist worldly temptations.
The School of Drama will perform a modern adaptation of the show that has been rewritten for present-day audiences.
Hannah Grillot, dramaturgy sophomore, said rather than focusing mostly on religion like the original script, the adaptation centers around a broader sense of morality.
“It’s really focused on teaching you lessons about the world in which you live and how to live a good life,” Grillot said. “When it was adapted, it became much less religious in nature in order to speak to a secular audience, so it’s much more about the threats of consumerism on a good lifestyle.”
Haley Pigman, acting senior and the show’s director, saw an original production of "Everyman" in London and knew she wanted to bring the show back to OU. Rather than opting for the classic production, Pigman felt the adaptation would resonate with younger, more modern audiences.
Although the show employs contemporary language and music, the play’s themes are timeless lessons that humanity has valued for hundreds of years, Pigman said.
“I thought it was a really original piece based on a play that’s integral to Western theater, and it’s such an important part of our education,” Pigman said of the show. “I really fell in love with the script because it’s telling the story that’s hundreds of years old, but in a completely new, fun and weird way.”
Ashtonn Thompson, acting sophomore who plays Everyman in the show, agreed that the play’s themes are still vital to modern day audiences.
“The original Everyman was all about going to God and being held accountable for your sins, but this adaption centers around what it means to be a human being and the human experience,” Thompson said. “It talks about pollution. It talks about using the time you have to better the earth and better yourself. It’s a very raw show, and I hope people like it.”
Since consumerism and pollution are two of the play’s main themes, Pigman opted for a set design that showcased these issues. The theatre’s back wall is covered in trash bags and plastic so audiences can see the effects the characters have on their environment.
“I wanted something simple that would be interactive. The trash motif with the set came about from watching the rehearsals and listening to the story because there’s a lot about the destruction of earth and waste in consumerism. So I thought that it would be cool to have a visual of that. It’s less about the spectacle and more about the words and the story,” Pigman said.
Everyman is the final student-directed production for spring 2017 and will take place in the Gilson Studio Theatre in Old Science Hall at 7:30 p.m. April 26-29 and 3 p.m. April 30. Tickets are $5 at the door.
