Trustus Theatre Delays Opening Of EXTREMITIES To 10/30

Trustus Theatre, celebrating 25 fabulous years of entertainment, brings the William Mastrosimone's controversial Extremities back to the midlands only professional theatre. Extremities was the first show ever produced at the theatre's original walk-up space on Assembly St. in 1985.

Due to an accident with lead actress Monica Wyche, the opening of Extremities has been delayed. The show is now set to open October 30rd, at 8:00pm at Trustus' current 520 Lady St. location.

When it came time to plan the 25th Anniversary Season, Trustus Artistic Director and Co-Founder Jim Thigpen felt that Extremities would be a great classic to bring back to Columbia. He wanted to put it October because that is National Domestic Awareness Month, and this show deals with the issue in a stirring and provoking way.

William Mastrosimone's Extremities is a show that has been known to cause controversy. Trustus Co-Founder Jim Thigpen still tells stories of how some audiences in the nation stood up and screamed at the actors during certain performances. With the unexpected subject matter and the strong audience reactions nationwide, Thigpen knew the play would be the perfect opener for Trustus' original theatre, a walk-up space on Assembly St. Opening night of the original production was wrought with controversy as the Columbia police halted the opening night of the original Trustus production when they received a bomb threat.

Trustus Co-Founder Kay Thigpen recounts the night vividly. "It was opening night of Extremities on Friday, November 15, 1985," said Thigpen. "I was in the box office and Jim was upstairs running sound and lights. Towards the end of the second act, police pounded up the stairs and told me to get everyone out because there was a bomb in the building". After Kay Thigpen led the audience out the front of the theatre, husband and Co-founder Jim Thigpen led the actors out the back. The police searched the building and deducted it was a false scare and the audience filed back into the building. The play started back up, and the evening concluded. "If I had planned a sensational opening night, I couldn't have done much better than a bomb scare," said Thigpen.

Now, in 2009, William Mastrosimone's controversial Extremities returns to Trustus Theatre at 520 Lady St. in the Vista. The theatre hasn't gone without its share of protest over the years, but Trustus co-founders Kay and Jim Thigpen feel that the opening of this current production will be without bomb scares.
Extremities follows the story of Marjorie who we meet at the start of what will be a truly

tumultuous day. She is alone in her home and suddenly finds herself visited by a stranger, Raul. He enters her home and attempts to take her by force. Marjorie turns the tables on him by knocking him out and tying him up in the fireplace. She continues to torture him until her roommates, Terry and Patricia, return home. What follows is a turn of events awarding Raul more power in the situation.

William Mastrosimone wrote this play after meeting a woman in 1978. She was raped in her home and positively identified the rapist in line-up. The woman went to court and watched as the case was dismissed. As she walked down the stairs of the courthouse, the man came up behind her and said "If you think that was bad, wait until next time." Fear consumed her.
Mastrosimone said of his hope for the show, "If Extremities could change anything, I would have it alter the perceptions of the people who sit in the jury box." Always conscious of modern issues in their productions, Trustus Theatre knew this show would be the prefect thought-provoking show to produce in October, which happens to be National Domestic Awareness Month.
When casting this highly intense show, Director Jim Thigpen knew he'd need a cast that could handle these roles with sensitivity and aplomb. Thigpen turned to popular Columbia actress Monica Wyche (Dangerous Liasons, Southern Baptist Sissies) to play Marjorie, the victim of Raul's attack. Playing Marjorie's roommates Patricia and Terry will be well-known Columbia actress E.G. Heard (Rabbit Hole, The Sweet Abyss) and Altonia Chatman (The Rocky Horror Show).

Thigpen also knew that he'd have to take great care in casting Raul, the would-be-rapist. "[Raul] is a difficult role," said Thigpen, "He has to terrify us, creep us out, and gain our sympathy at times. Not everyone can achieve all of those qualities." In the end, Thigpen cast Christopher Cockrell, well known for his portrayal of Riff-Raff in Trustus' Rocky Horror Show and Dr. Jeckyll/Hyde in Town Theatre's Jeckyll and Hyde.

Trustus Theatre continues its 25th Season with Extremities on October 30th, at 8:00pm. Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady St. The main stage entrance is located on the Publix side of the building.

For more information call the box offIce Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.org for all show information and season info.

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