Spring Break
Student group presents 'Darfur Stories'
Jonathan Crabtree
Issue date: 3/8/07 Section: News
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What do you get when you mix Philip Glass, an Episcopal church, one papier-mâché palm tree, two wristbands, four wooden blocks, a scarf and four actors in 18 scenes with dozens of characters? ""Darfur Stories": Tell Them," an organically moving, emotionally raw performance presented by Students Taking Action Now: Darfur. Two performances of the play will be given this weekend at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
""Darfur Stories"," originally written by Seattle reporter Barbara Mackoff, was first produced in late January of this year as a stage reading.
"The actors didn't have to memorize it; they just read it off the script," said Mervin Jebaraj, one of the play's producers and chair of the Arkansas' Sudan Divestment Campaign.
"This is the first time it's being produced with an actual set," Jebaraj said. "It's minimal, but we've done costumes and the actors have had to memorize their lines."
Nearly all of the interviews in the play have been taken from Mackoff's actual interviews or from interviews other people have conducted with the refugees, politicians and social activists involved with the crisis, Jebaraj said.
Betsy Kordsmeier, UA student and costume designer, said the journalist characters in "Darfur Stories" are "basically the method through which the audience is finding out about things that are happening in Darfur. The reporters are talking to the activists who are making things happen, the reporters are talking to refugees and the reporters are talking to politicians. It's very dynamic and changing."
Last Sunday was the first time that any of the actors had seen the script, Jebaraj said. They have rehearsed nine out of the last 10 days.
The play's director, Drew Cogbill, returned to the UA in December having been in Belize working with the UA and Peace Work to help with the Belize relief program. Cogbill volunteered to direct the play after Jebaraj told him about the possibility of adapting it. "It's been a whirlwind, but it's been great," Cogbill said. "We started rehearsals less than two weeks ago, and the days are all running together. I can't even remember what day it is."
""Darfur Stories"," originally written by Seattle reporter Barbara Mackoff, was first produced in late January of this year as a stage reading.
"The actors didn't have to memorize it; they just read it off the script," said Mervin Jebaraj, one of the play's producers and chair of the Arkansas' Sudan Divestment Campaign.
"This is the first time it's being produced with an actual set," Jebaraj said. "It's minimal, but we've done costumes and the actors have had to memorize their lines."
Nearly all of the interviews in the play have been taken from Mackoff's actual interviews or from interviews other people have conducted with the refugees, politicians and social activists involved with the crisis, Jebaraj said.
Betsy Kordsmeier, UA student and costume designer, said the journalist characters in "Darfur Stories" are "basically the method through which the audience is finding out about things that are happening in Darfur. The reporters are talking to the activists who are making things happen, the reporters are talking to refugees and the reporters are talking to politicians. It's very dynamic and changing."
Last Sunday was the first time that any of the actors had seen the script, Jebaraj said. They have rehearsed nine out of the last 10 days.
The play's director, Drew Cogbill, returned to the UA in December having been in Belize working with the UA and Peace Work to help with the Belize relief program. Cogbill volunteered to direct the play after Jebaraj told him about the possibility of adapting it. "It's been a whirlwind, but it's been great," Cogbill said. "We started rehearsals less than two weeks ago, and the days are all running together. I can't even remember what day it is."
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