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“Must Go On” Critical Essay

“Must Go On” was a play unlike any I had ever experienced. I walked into the Cellar Theatre with an open mind. Looking back, I could not be more thankful that I did because any expectations, beliefs, or thoughts about such a play would have been torn to shreds in the following two hours. The combination of directing, design, actors, and overall mood created an unreal, mind-bogglingly entertaining production.

Typical plays have one performing area, usually a stage of some-sort, which allows for the audience to see real-life, physical people right in front of them. Needless to say, “Must Go On” was not a typical play, especially in this aspect. The play was designed very creatively in two separate areas: the staging area directly in front of the audience and another room that was transferred onto a screen in the first area via cameras. The actors were seen both on the stage and on-camera. Because there were two sets instead of one, the director had to be in control of the timing throughout the play. Each set had to be aware of the other and coordinate their actions accordingly. Also, the extra technology had to be set up and individuals had to be assigned to man the equipment. All of this had to be in the control of the director. Even to inexperienced eyes, the director, John Kundert-Gibbs, did an exceptional job keeping all parts running smoothly and effectively.

Design was also a significant part of the production. The costume designer, Christine Burchett-Butler, clearly tried to use the costumes as a way to further express the personalities and roles of the characters. The lead female wore a brightly colored, childish outfit that fit her dramatic and diva-ish attitude. My personal favorite outfit was that of the guest on the show who trained opossums. It was very creatively done and added to the already great performance of the actress. In this production, more than most others, the costumes served to elaborate on and develop the characters. Even before the characters had a chance to make an impression on the audience, the costumes began developing who they were. The costumes were one of the best aspects of the production.

Design also includes the set. Rich Dunham, a staff member at the University of Georgia, developed the set design. As mentioned previously, he had the challenge of figuring out how to utilize two sets: the more personal set in front of the audience and the one on screen. The actors also had to be able to easily and quickly switch from set to set. The sets allowed for all of the characters to be seen, especially when they were to be the center of attention. However, the set in front of the audience was so wide that it became difficult to follow everything that was happening at once. The door that the actors entered and exited from was directly adjacent to the audience seating, making the opening and closing of the door rather distracting. There were times when it was hard to choose which actors to keep your eyes on because it was not clear who was supposed to be the center of attention. However, this issue was only partially due to the set. The actors were amazingly skilled at living, breathing, being their character. Not once did I see a single move or hear a single word that did not appear to come from the character’s persona. The combination of costume and personality combined to create exaggerated versions of people that remind us of those we know. Connections between the characters and television personalities and acquantances could be made, making the play all the more personal.

With that said, the play script was written to be so busy and includ so many unique, vibrant, and quite frankly loud, characters that it became overwhelming. A few older audience members were overheard mumbling about how they were ready for all of the screaming and yelling to stop, as well as the whole play. While not all plays are written to please every audience, the intensity of the mood and the pace of the performance in general grew to be overwhelming and tiresome even to the freshest of viewers. While the plot line of the play was fairly simple, the message often got lost amid the noise and confusion. The concept of putting on a show was easily recognizable throughout. What was not quite as crystal clear was the multitude of romantic relationships that evolved. There were scenes onstage that made the audience quite uncomfortable due to the actions and underlying meanings of the dialogue. Although it is understood that certain parts are included in performances with the purpose of obtaining a reaction from the audience, this particular type of play would have been improved if these additions were removed.

No two productions are the same. “Must Go On” was a creative way to tell the story of a television station that was nearly shut down but was saved by a group of special, passionate people. This production was unlike any I had ever experienced and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to view and reflect on it. Overall, the directing, design, actors, and tone of the play came together to create yet another memorable and entertaining production from the theatre program at the University of Georgia. I applaud all involved!