BWW Reviews: SEMINAR at Boise State University, Kind of Fitting Really

I arrived at Boise State University's production of SEMINAR to notice that the Danny Peterson Theatre was set up in a thrust presentation. I always love walking into black box theatres (theatres that can be staged in any style, just a large open room to start) to see how the directors have chosen to use the space, partly because I want to see if I can figure out the why.

Gordon Reinhart had decided to create a thrust theatre set up for the rent-controlled apartment. As an audience member, I felt like I was in the apartment (I sat opposite another bank of seats) and the audience members who were looking straight on, in my opinion, were "outside". In my mind it created an interesting feeling of being more a part of the play.

Theresa Rebeck's SEMINAR is about an outcast college English professor who was involved in a scandal and ostracized. He has remade himself as a great editor and offers seminars, or small classes to a special select students.

I thought that the actors did a good job. It is interesting to me as a theatre arts teacher to watch the actors at the same time try to see their characters. I would notice occasionally that there was a moment or two where you can see the actor consciously make the decision to show the tension in the body or making sure the facial expressions were over the entire face and not just the mouth or forehead. But overall, I felt that the actors were the characters they were portraying.

The set was very contemporary with the white and chrome furniture and shelving, so the lighting helped to introduce color to the set. Not only color but pattern. It was lovely to see the way the lights and patterns would help set the moods that happened and were to come.

The music, I am not sure about the music. I am sure some of the songs were appropriate for some of the characters, but the sound design did not really show us how they worked together or how much they clashed. It seemed a bit disjointed, but I think they could have been in a better order or songs that flowed with each other a bit more could have done a little better of a job. I do like rap, so the type of music did not offend me. It just didn't pull me into the performance.

I would have loved to have had the time to go back and see the play again. The last scene, for me, made the whole show worth watching again. I normally do not make connections but for some reason, I saw the old professor talking to his younger self convincing him he is worth it and to take a chance. It was a beautiful scene. Well done, BSU Theatre Department!

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