An ancient fairy leaves the underworld to harass two young women in Caryl Churchill’s “The Skriker,” the new production from DVC’s drama department.
Ed Trujillo, who directed a production of “Alice in Wonderland” last spring, returns to direct “The Skriker,” which will run from Jan. 27th to Feb. 12th in the PAC’s main theater.
“The plot is difficult to describe in a lot of ways,” Trujillo said. The story focuses on The Skriker, a being from English folklore who can be described as a fairy or a demon, and her encounters with Lily and Josie, two Londoners who Trujillo describes as “lost in the world.”
Also present are a series of additional demons who, in the words of performer Chris Lionel, will “be running around in crazy costumes.” Lionel plays two of these demons, “Man with Cloth and Bucket” and “Radiant Boy.”
According to assistant stage manager James Thompson, the demons range from comedic, such as “Radiant Boy” who wears solely a thong, to disturbing, such as “rawheadandbloodybones” who has monstrous claws and exposed organs. In addition, many were based off of English folklore.
Robin Waisanen, who plays the Skriker, said that the play will “challenge the audience as much as it has challenged us.” The play begins with an eight minute monologue in which The Skriker employs a lot of wordplay, and there is a character who spends the entirety of the performance dancing onstage.
Trujillo noted that the play’s “seamlessness” also presents a big challenge. The play lacks defined scenes and is presented in a non-linear fashion. In addition, stage manager Anakaren Meza said that Trujillo decided to have the demons do the work of stagehands to keep the seamlessness going.
In the director’s notes, Trujillo notes that the production’s challenges are worth it: “I think it is the right kind of show for our community…because of the demands it places on creativity. It is a physically and vocally demanding show. […] It demands that you pay attention, but it also has some strange altered realities, amazing themes, plots and dynamic characterizations that make theatre worth going to.”
Thompson enjoys the play’s tone and visual effects: “[The play] is different. It has some elements of dark comedy but it is really more like horror. There’s a big technical aspect to the show as well. The set design is dark and gritty and the lighting is amazing. In parts it looks like the demons are creating their own world and rising out of hell.”
Waisanen believes that people should attend the show “because it will make you think, pay attention, and it will stay with you.”
Advisory: “The Skriker” features language and situations that may not be appropriate for people under the age of 16.
“The Skriker” will show at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. In addition, there are daytime showings at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 3 and Feb. 8. A behind the scenes event will take place at 12:45 p.m. on Jan. 31 in the PAC.
