WAR IN WITTY Wittenberg
Perseverance presents tale of Protestant Reformation set at a college campus
Young adults alike will relate to Perseverance Theatre's upcoming comedic play "Wittenberg," written by David Davalos and directed by Mike Stevenson.
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Set in early 1500s Germany, "Wittenberg" tells the story of the emergence of the Protestant Reformation. But the twist in telling this fictional story comes with its modern setting - a college campus, Wittenberg University.
"What it is is funny," said Artistic Director Art Rotch of the contemporary play. "I know it's about some big ideas and has some names that sound historical, but anyone who has ever not been able to decide what to do with their life can understand and relate to this play. It's terrific."
The play, based on historical events, includes a cast of four, two of whom are professors: Dr. John Faustus (Dave Hunsaker), a philosopher who thinks the earth might orbit around the sun, and Dr. Martin Luther (Roblin Gray Davis), a man of faith who disagrees with the Pope on the crusades.
The professors are vying for the succession of their student, Hamlet (Brandon Demery), who, aside from being the Prince of Denmark, is a college senior struggling with what to be or not to be.
"In the famous play that is about him, Hamlet has trouble making up his mind what to do," Rotch said. "So if you've ever wondered how he got so indecisive, you should see what he studied in college. That is the idea behind the play."
According to Rotch, Faustus wants Hamlet to study philosophy "because he thinks philosophy is a hip new science and there's all kinds of interesting things happening." But Martin Luther believes, because the world is "going to the dogs, he needs bright young men like Hamlet to go into the church and save it from itself."
"So that's the choice that Hamlet has to make," Rotch added. "It's between faith and science or reason. It's kind of a classic dilema, but it ends up being very funny."
The Eternal Feminine (Asha Falcon) represents all the feminine ideals in the play: the Virgin Mary, Helen of Troy, Gaia (German Goddess of the Earth), Gretchen (bartender at the Bunghole Tavern), Helen (Faustus' girlfriend) and a messenger of the court.
"It's a small but really good cast," Rotch said. "They're really well directed by a collegue of mine, Michael Stevenson. ... He's been really advocating for this play, and I'm so glad that he did, because it's a terrific piece."
Among many witty highlights, Faustus plays his electric lute at open mike night at the campus bar, the Bunghole Tavern. For this, Hunsaker will sing three classic '60s guitar rock tunes.
"He's the cool professor," Rotch said of Faustus.
"The play is a wacky, light-hearted, astronomical take on a German college town," he added. "It's a little bit quirky."
But this play's unorthodox approach makes it well worth seeing. A unique take on historical events with illustrious characters will surely tickle your curiosity as well as your funny bone.
Davalos won the Stavis Playwriting Award for Outstanding New Writer for "Wittenberg." It previews this weekend and opens Jan. 8.
• Contact Neighbors editor Kim Andree at 523-2272 or kimberly.andree@juneauempire.com.