With the new semester chugging along at full speed, Winthrop University’s theatre department looks to dive deep into their Spring 2021 production season by starting off with Molly Hagan’s “The Swing of the Sea.”
According to the Department of Theatre and Dance’s website, the play is two children’s “journey through memory and imagination following the sudden death of their friend.”
The plot centers around Boots, a yellow-rain-boots-clad girl, and her friend Eggs, a boy dreaming of asking her to an upcoming dance, as the two come to terms with the death of their friend, Peter.
Sophomore technical theatre major Connor Marsh, who stars as Eggs in the play, said that the show “centers on a lot of dark subject matter that you have to deal with very young.” He went on to say that the play is “a retrospection on what’s it like to go through [the loss of a friend] at that age.”
Marsh said that the character of Eggs is meant to be 12 years old, almost 13, during the events of the play.
“Eggs deals with things like loneliness and isolation,” Marsh said, “even when he is friends with Boots. So, it is him going through the grieving process while trying to maintain a positive attitude, which doesn’t always work.”
Marsh is joined onstage by senior psychology major Taji Mayberry, who plays the role of Peter. Mayberry said the “The Swing of the Sea” explores how loss can affect a friendship and what happens to the people left behind after a death.
Mayberry’s character, Peter, is “there to help his friends accept his death,” according to the actor. Peter “wants them to get better individually and as friends together.”
Throughout the production process, Mayberry has been worried about representing the role well.
“He goes through a lot of complex feelings for anyone, especially for his age, and ends up taking his life,” Mayberry said. “So, it is import- ant to understand his actions before the play to understand his actions during the show. I would say accurately portraying a character going through such pain and having to see what he left over was the biggest obstacle.”
According to Marsh, the hardest part about the show for him has been trying to navigate the situation with COVID-19. Throughout the rehearsals, the cast and crew have experimented to see what they can and cannot amidst safety precautions while maintaining the safety of everyone involved. One major change that has resulted from these precautions is the productions’ move to a digital streaming performance.
“We rely a lot on camera work now,” Marsh said. “It’s more of a Saturday Night Live style than anything. But I find it interesting how we can make that live performance still feel live with it all just being camera work.”
Once the play has ended, Marsh hopes that the audience will walk away with “a new perspective on mental health. I hope that it comforts them in a way, especially with the grieving process and moving on.”
Mayberry shared Marsh’s hope that the audience will be more aware of mental health and that they will “Learn the signs of people going through silent pain.”
He went on to say that he also hopes “that adults, young and old, will listen and watch for elementary and middle schoolers as well. Their experiences and feelings are just as worthy of validation, don’t disregard them.”
Photo by Emma Crouch
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