An OU Helmerich School of Drama senior will make his directorial debut with “The Effect” in his final play as an OU student.
Granger Lusk, one of two seniors to direct a studio production this year, said he found the play as a sophomore while looking for audition monologues and was immediately drawn to it.
“It asks a lot of really important ethical questions, as it relates to healthy patient drug trials, and overall, it's a love story,” Lusk said.
“The Effect” tells the story of two young volunteers in a clinical drug trial for a new antidepressant. They fall in love and question if their feelings are genuine or a side effect of the medication.
Lusk found a personal connection to the story because his mother works in clinical trials, and he enjoys acting in romantic roles.
“I love doing romance shows, and as an actor, that's always so fun for me,” Lusk said. “To be able to direct that and uplift a story where it is such a complex exploration of love is really fun.”
According to Lusk, “The Effect” was a financially reasonable project given budget constraints, and the show covers topics that are prominent to OU students.
“It touches on a lot of things that I think are really prevalent in Gen Z, …” Lusk said. “I think it all can relate to mental health struggles, which is explored in the show.”
As a first-time director, Lusk is drawing inspiration from his faculty advisor, OU School of Drama professor Seth Gordon, who invites the actors to contribute to the process.
“Everybody's able to be collaborative, and it doesn't feel like anybody owns anything,” Lusk said. “It's all of ours together, which is really important.”
While directing, Lusk said he reflected on his time as an actor and on his desire for the freedom to be creative and explore options for his character.
The cast includes OU drama students, and Lusk said he’s enjoyed their focus and willingness to explore throughout the rehearsal process. At first, Lusk said he was nervous about directing his peers, but he quickly realized that he and his cast shared the same goal.
“The most important thing is remembering it's not one person's, it's a really collaborative effort,” Lusk said. “Just like dance or musical theater, anything like that. We're making group art and I'm just one piece of the puzzle. The show would not be possible without them on stage.”
At the beginning of the rehearsal process, Lusk said he had to overcome self-doubt to trust his vision.
“I think at the very top of the process, everybody's asking me questions about what I want it to be,” Lusk said. “As somebody that's coming from a background of strictly being an actor for 20 years, having so much be reliant on my vision made me really have a new appreciation for how much effort goes into creation of a play.”
However, he said his learning experiences at OU’s School of Drama helped him trust his abilities.
“I think (when) you're in an academic environment and you kind of get stuck in this idea of ‘I don't know as much as I can,’” Lusk said. “You're constantly trying to learn more and being in the rehearsal room and being the director, I'm able to look back and be like, ‘Wow. I've learned a lot these past four years.’”
According to Lusk, a director’s most important role is to center a play on a common goal. After three days of table work, Lusk said he kept returning to the show's central question.
“I kept trying to push the cast to ask themselves as we work through having a clear goal of, ‘What is the question that we’re examining in this piece?’” Lusk said. “How do we want the characters to change? Asking the right questions as to center the cast onto the same goal, I think, is really the job of the director.”
Lusk explained how each play is told through the director's eyes. He said if he directed “The Effect” in the future, the show would change because he will have changed.
“I think if this was directed by anybody else, it could be a completely different show,” Lusk said. “It's my opinion on what I think the central question of the show is, but somebody could read this play and be like, ‘Yeah, it's a love story,’ but I'm much more interested in the ethical dilemma, and so that's what we're going to highlight.”
As a performer, Lusk said directing will help his acting skills, and he’s grown as an artist because his perspective on plays has changed.
“There has to be a mutual language between both. You're operating together so intensely throughout the whole process that you have to be able to speak the same language, …” Lusk said. “Being on the director's side, now I can look at my acting and be like, ‘Oh, you know, all they want is for me to explore.’ So, it gives you more permission as an actor to just do what you think is right and do what you feel motivated to do.”
As an actor, Lusk said he’s nervous before every performance, but as soon as his part begins, his nerves disappear.
“I think I'm nervous in the sense that I want people to love it, and I care so much and I want people to love it as much as I love it,” Lusk said. “On the day of opening, I'm sure I will be terrified just waiting for that first line. But once that first line is said, it's out of my hands and I can just sit back and enjoy it.”
“The Effect” opens at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Studio Theatre in the Old Science Hall. The play will continue at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 online.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Tori Pham copy edited this story.
