Drugs, alcohol, dancing, tragedy, humor and passionate scandals await the audience of University Theatre's production of Andrew Lippa's "The Wild Party" at 7:30 p.m.
"The Wild Party," originally a poem written by Joseph Moncure March in 1928, is based on the darker side of the Roaring '20s, said Michael O'Hara, associate professor of theatre.
"The Wild Party" follows the exploits of Queenie and Burrs, two Vaudeville performers who have an abusive relationship, as their romance grows stale. The couple's solution to their relationship issues materializes as a provocative party - at least, until tragedy strikes, O'Hara said.
Jessica Biernacki, senior musical theater major, said she was ecstatic to land the lead role of Queenie who she said is "a sex god who is wanted by all men."
"This has been my favorite musical for a long time," she said. "It's glamorous, rebellious, risqu+â-¬, about love, it's about everything, and that's why I love it."
Despite the musical's critically acclaimed reception in New York nearly a decade ago, a lack of comedic relief and potentially offensive content may initially turn away part of the Muncie community, O'Hara said. However, O'Hara said he requires students in his introduction to theater classes to attend the musical to appreciate musicals of a wide range.
The format is less of a traditional musical and more of an opera, thanks to its numerous musical scores and fewer non-musical acting scenes, junior theater major Michael Chandler said. The result is a typical story told in a non-typical manner, he said.
Chandler plays the other lead role as Burrs, the famous Vaudeville clown who always gets the party rolling with his endless supply of jokes but who also has a tough Napoleon complex, he said. The contradictions found within Burrs' personality, as well as those of the musical itself, are what drew Chandler in, he said.
"I liked the dark decadence of the era," Chandler said. "These are very good people, and the party they are throwing is greedy and risqu+â-¬."
Biernacki said she hopes that holding the show during Family Weekend will not deter students from attending. Biernacki's mother and grandmother plan to show their support by coming, and this is an opportunity for parents and their college students to bond, she said.
Because of the controversial nature of "The Wild Party," actors anticipate a wide range of reactions from the audience, from being offended to appreciating the musical's boldness to not knowing how to react, Chandler said.
"I expect some people to walk out," he said. "People just need to come with an open mind and know that this is a story of real people. [We're] just trying to make it accurate and representational of those people."
Bill Jenkins, chairman of the department of theatre and dance, insisted that official posters and flyers include an R-rating graphic to warn students of the musical's content before coming, he said.
"The signs are less controversial and more precautionary," Jenkins said. "Not all shows are 'Oklahoma.'... When they walk through the door, we don't want them to expect Rodgers and Hammerstein."
The possibility that "The Wild Party" will offend some audience members does not override the benefits for its actors, Jenkins said.
"I'm sure we're going to get people who laugh at things that make them more uncomfortable," she said. "But I hope they see past all that and not just come to see the sexual part."
Additional InformationWhere: University TheatreWhen: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27-29, 2:30 p.m. Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3-6Cost: $9.50 BSU students, $11.50 senior citizens, $13.50 BSU faculty, $15.50 general public
How Ball State University chooses each year's schedule of productions:A committee of faculty, staff and students sift through suggestions from the community and student body and create a list of potential plays and musicals. The committee's goal is to create as eclectic and educationally sound a season as possible, Bill Jenkins said.
The committee then votes and narrows down the list.
The winners of the first round of voting then are approved by all faculty. The process takes up to four months, Jenkins said
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