Campus Community Players to Perform “Rest”
A nursing home in rural Idaho is about to shutter, and only a few residents and staff members linger. Trapped by a record-breaking blizzard, everyone is brought to face their own mortality when a resident with dementia vanishes into the storm.
This is the premise of the play Rest, to be performed by the Campus Community Players at UW-Marshfield/Wood County from April 20-22 at 7:30 p.m, and April 23 at 2 p.m.
Written by award-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter, Rest delves into hot-topic issues like euthanasia, grief, and moral responsibility. It strikes a delicate balance between tragedy and comedy as it explores themes relevant to modern society.
“[Hunter] is very much in touch with the twenty-first century and the complications that we face in the present, while still dealing with timeless issues that speak to multiple generations,” said director Damian Ernest. “He represents a new generation of American drama, and I would like our audiences to witness what that means.”
The isolation caused by the storm serves as the dramatic backdrop for the play. “I enjoy the old dramatic convention of having characters who are trapped by circumstance, in this case the weather,” said Ernest. “The characters are left to deal with their problems in a claustrophobic environment, and tensions naturally run high.”
Rest serves as a rich character piece, full of figures that are relatable despite of—or rather because of—their flaws. These flaws are magnified by the circumstances in which the characters find themselves. Throughout the play, as Gerald’s disappearance hovers in the background, the characters reveal themselves and discover one another.
Part of the remaining staff include nursing aides and best friends Ginny and Faye. Faye is a surrogate mother for her friend, who cannot have children, and faces impending joblessness. Neither woman is happy with the decisions they’ve made in life.
The recently divorced manager, Jeremy, is a lost soul worried about any aspect of his future. Troubled teen Ken has been sent by his pastor to fill in as a cook as a form of therapy while dealing with his own fears.
Already stressed from packing up the facility, no one is able to keep their personal problems from affecting their work.
The three residents include the sharp-tongued Etta, who feels lost and alone; her soon-to-be-missing husband Gerald, whose mental state is declining; and the mostly-quiet Tom, who watches a lot of TV and waits impatiently for his meals.
Both new and familiar actors fill out the cast of seven. New to the campus stage include students Carly Rhyner (Faye) and Justin Bakos (Ken). Also participating are former students Joshua Carr (Jeremy) and Chelsea Judnic (Ginny); community participants Roxie Wetterau (Etta), Chad Breitzke (Gerald) and Ed Krall (Tom).
Rated PG-13 for adult language and mature situations, Rest will be performed at the Helen Connor Laird Theatre at 2000 W. 5th Street. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office at 715-389-6534. Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted.
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