Hendrix to stage reading of alum's work

Hendrix College hopes to continue a lasting literary tradition Friday, opening its doors to the public for a free dramatic reading by one of its own.

The dramatic reading of "Yum, Yum Yoghurt, Ulysses!" written by Jason Burke Murphy, is part of the college's annual Hendrix-Murphy Alumni Playwriting Contest.

"The play is very crude and silly but also deals with a few important cultural and ethical questions," Murphy said, who compares his work to that of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."

Just like Beckett, Murphy hopes to continue the absurdist tradition, conveying serious ideas in a funny manner.

"I'm concerned about how some ideas to take to heart can become cliched, like that children are beautiful, special and important," he said. "That's really important, but so many times when an artist tries to convey that it comes out trite. ... We're more likely to go with something sarcastic and harsh, and I like that kind of stuff."

.story-ad {

width: 310px;

float: left;

margin: 0 10px 10px 0;

padding: 4px;

}

- Advertisement -

OAS_AD('x22');

The reading is also part of the Hendrix Playwright's Theatre, which began in 1999 as a follow-up to the contest.

"It's definitely a workshop-type of event. People can respond to the play," said Bobby Engeler-Young, the director of the college's Media Center.

Engeler-Young coincidentally will be directing Friday's reading as well.

"Since they knew I was a friend of the playwright we graduated in 1993 from Hendrix they asked if I would direct. I of course said yes," he said, adding that he enjoyed having a more involved role in the event this year.

Henryetta Vanaman, the Hendrix-Murphy Foundation director, said people from across the country will be coming to Friday's performance.

"We do have alumni coming in from New York and Dallas just to participate in the reading. That's always interesting that we have people come in from that far away to do the play," she said.

Connections to 'Godot'

Murphy describes the play as a satire of "Godot," though he slightly self-deprecates the work. "It was written with 'Waiting for Godot' right there on the desk. At one point the characters complain that it's too clear a use of 'Waiting for Godot.' They make fun of the reference."

The plot circles two college-age employees, who work at a yoghurt store in a mall, waiting for customers to appear.

Those familiar with the earlier play may recognize the connection immediately, especially after looking at the various characters. In one scene, a former rock 'n' roll groupie leads an adult man, wearing a diaper, by a child leash, making an obvious allusion to Beckett's work. "That whole scene is composed straight out of Pozzo and Lucky," he confirmed. "I even take whole sentences out of Lucky's speech and put into the guy with the diaper."

Engeler-Young noted the similarities to Beckett's play. "It's very much an '80s take on 'Waiting for Godot,' with very obvious references and jokes," he said.

However, he said that the play goes beyond the satirical genre, noting his friend's basis in ethical philosophy. "To spill his guts in this play I think was a lot of fun for him," he said. "It was very fun reading this and hearing his voice behind the characters."

The St. Louis University doctoral candidate plans to finish his degree in philosophy this year, and cites German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche as one of his influences.

So much of an influence, in fact, that Nietzsche even appears briefly in his play, performing a bluegrass number.

"It gets very wacky," Murphy admitted. "But it's not pointless."

Murphy looked to modern-day directors for help as well, including Kevin Smith, who he said influenced his dialogue.

"Smith influences a lot of the tone," he said.

He looks forward to seeing his work on the same stage where he performed 15 years ago.

"I knew that winning the contest would be an honor and a pleasure," he said. "Hendrix and the Murphy Foundation have gone even further than that. I've gotten feedback from a working theatrical professionals and I'll be seeing what actors will do with what I've written. This makes me downright fortunate."

The opportunity will allow him to see what works, and what doesn't, he said.

"I'm actually very confident that they will make it better," he said. "I'm a little worried on the sheet that something doesn't work, but I can go and fix it. I'm actually very humbled that people are working with this text that I've put together. The next play will feel a little different."

He said the contest judge, Rick DesRochers, gave him constructive criticism on the piece. "He said to lay low on the self-deprecation. The characters complain about the author and to use a little less of the 'Waiting for Godot' references," he said.

One area in which the reading might aid him is in the characters' dialogue, he said. "One of my characters talks in a way I wouldn't want any of my friends to talk," he joked.

On that note, he warned audience members to keep younger children at home. "I would not want anyone bringing their kids to this. The absurd fantasies of one of the characters are highly sexualized."

Even if the audience doesn't appreciate his work as he does, he feels it will be a good experience. "One good thing about conceptual art is that when it doesn't work you can still talk about it," he said.

And, while he hopes people do enjoy it, he remains hopeful that he can recraft his piece afterward into something better.

"When I wrote this I felt that no would ever perform it," he said.

Contest details

The contest began in 1985, after then-students Doug Blackman and Werner Trieschmann gave their idea to members of the theatre department.

"At the time, I had figured out that I desperately wanted to be a playwright, or actually, that I wanted to write plays," said Trieschmann, who has since penned several plays, including "Nothing Says I Love You Like Bad Poetry" and "The Absolute Most Clichd Elevator Play in the History of the Entire Universe."

"I wrote my first really horrible one while I was a sophomore at Hendrix and then wrote a less horrible one the next year. The Hendrix Theatre Department, headed up at that time by the amazing Rosemary Henenberg, encouraged me and helped Doug and I stage that play, 'Given Faith.' I'm pretty sure the idea for the contest came about right after that."

The next deadline for the playwriting contest open separately to students and alumni is Oct. 31. Winners will be notified near the beginning of February, Vanaman said.

She added that all entries must be previously unpublished works, as the contest is meant to be a learning experience.

Trieschmann said the readings greatly benefit the individual writers, who need to visualize their work to see if the scripts are effective. "Unlike other writers, playwrights need to hear their work read aloud. Plays are meant to be performed," he said. "Since the contest started, the readings have given a lot of playwrights this chance. The plays have covered a wide range of topics and styles, from earnest dramas to very funny comedies. I can tell you as a performer, they are a blast to be in because it's brand new and you have the script in front of you."