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Tuesday, November 11, 2008 UNI Interpreters Theatre presents ''Until Someone Wakes Up,'' Dec. 4-6CEDAR FALLS — The UNI Interpreters Theatre continues its yearlong exploration of gender and relationships with Until Someone Wakes Up, playing December 4, 5 and 6. Until Someone Wakes Up, directed by Emily Griffin and conceived by Carolyn Levy, confronts audiences with alarmingly true experiences of women who were victims of sexual assault and rape, as well as the role that society plays in fostering this kind of violence.
For her first Interpreters Theatre directing assignment, Griffin wanted to do something that would challenge audiences. Until Someone Wakes Up, recommended to her by Interpreters Theatre artistic director Dr. Karen Mitchell, was an ideal choice with its unique take on rape, featuring drama, satire, and unexpected humor.
''I wanted to do something about sexual assault or gender violence,'' Griffin said. ''I loved that [Until Someone Wakes Up] encompasses so many views on rape, the idea that there's support out there, then the idea that some people aren't going to be supportive to the victims. I think that's important to look at.''
Until Someone Wakes Up was written by Levy and students of Macalester College in 1992. The script was adapted from actual interviews with survivors and perpetrators of sexual violence. Since its origin, it has been performed all over the United States.
The stories are told through a series of vignettes. Some are humorous and absurd, such as a game show discussing society's expectations of men and women through everyday colloquialisms. Others are intense, such as one scene in which a woman's story develops in tableaus as it is being told.
Griffin acknowledges that dealing with such emotionally powerful material presents challenges to both her and her actors. She hopes their hard work will allow the audience to walk away with a new perspective on and a new perception of all parties involved in the horrific act of rape.
''I think the biggest challenge has been handling the subject of rape without being too careful but without going over the top,'' Griffin said. ''It's about being honest and finding the balance of making it realistic without being overdramatic.
''It's empathy for people who have been through rape and the ability to listen and be an understanding and supportive friend to them.''
All performances take place in the Interpreters Theatre, located in Lang Hall on the UNI campus, room 040. Admission is free; seating is limited to 90 people per performance. Performances contain mature language, themes and situations and might not be appropriate for younger viewers.
The UNI Interpreters Theatre is a nationally recognized co-curricular program that promotes the creation, direction and performance of scripts based on social and cultural issues, oral histories and ethnographies, as well as traditional performance of literature.
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