University Theatre production adds educational depth to drama training

The thing about a George Bernard Shaw play is its dialogue, according to Mark Lococo, director of the University Theatre production of Shaw’s “Misalliance.”

“There are so many words — it’s a challenge to bring such articulate people to life,” he says.

Nevertheless, he and the cast and crew will endeavor to create fully human characters out of the ones Shaw created in 1910. Described by the playwright himself as a discussion play, “Misalliance” emphasizes ideas and conversation over action, although not exclusively. For example, the play contains a scene in which an Edwardian aircraft makes an impromptu landing in the middle of a summer weekend at an English country house. Shaw clearly intended an examination of gender, social class, parent-child relationships, among others, to have the strongest spotlight.

The idea that “Misalliance” houses are especially relevant to contemporary audiences, Lococo says.

“While much has changed since 1910, there is still so much truth in this play. When children assert their independence and leave the nest, it’s still one of life’s hardest things for everyone involved. I hope this play will give audiences a good laugh at the situation, as well as a little insight,” he says.

Lococo is based in metropolitan Milwaukee, an associate professor at UW-Waukesha. The Milwaukee Chamber Theatre hired him to direct this co-production of “Misalliance,” which will reopen for an extended run at the Chamber Theatre’s main stage in Milwaukee later this spring when it concludes its three weeks in Madison, according to University Theatre director Norma Saldivar.

Saldivar says that the dual venues will give students involved with the production a new context for what they are learning in their classes. “We are committed to presenting our students with a variety of challenges and experiences,” she says. “By providing them with exposure to professionals, student actors and theater technicians learn to apply the crafts they are honing in their studio classes. It also gives them an opportunity to watch and work with professionals in a professional setting, providing a bridge for our students into the profession.”

Second-year master of fine arts candidate Carrie Coon will second that emphatically. In “Misalliance” she plays the pivotal role of Hypatia Tarleton — many of Shaw’s key points turn on this character.

Coon says that the sort of training she is receiving in the UW–Madison acting program combines the best of past and current pedagogical techniques. Working with actors from the Chamber Theatre, for example, brings her academic education into a real-world setting.

“Our faculty are observing us in rehearsal and addressing our individual needs in class. As mentors, the Chamber Theatre actors are incredibly generous both onstage and in sharing their experiences with us offstage. It’s been such a pleasure to watch them work — and a humbling one at that,” she says.

Fellow MFA candidate Steve O’Connell, who plays aviator Joey Percival, agrees. “I’ve never done Shaw, and it’s a great opportunity to watch how the Chamber Theatre actors approach their roles and work with the text, which can be a tricky thing with Shaw,” he says.

Theater-goers also will find that their understanding and enjoyment of the theater in general and of Shaw in particular will be heightened by the collaboration between the two companies, says Saldivar.

“Audiences gain so much by being exposed to the work of unfamiliar actors and directors,” she says. “Many of our season ticket subscribers know our student actors and enjoy watching their development — this time audiences will see their favorites playing opposite seasoned actors.”

“Misalliance” will open on Friday, Feb. 25, and continues its run in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 26, and Thursday-Saturday, March 3-5 and 10-12. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. in Vilas Hall’s Mitchell Theatre.

Tickets, $16 general/$12 UW–Madison students, are available through the Vilas Hall Box Office, 262-1500.