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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 20, 1997)
Nikki Fox/DN AMY JIRSA (left) and Kristopher Gordon Kling struggle for the leash during a scene from A.R. Gurney’s play “Sylvia,” running today through Saturday at Studio Theatre in the Temple Building. Student staged as canine ByLizaHoltmeier Senior Reporter She barks at cats. She tugs at her leash. She jumps on the couch. But she is not a dog. She is a junior theater major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and her name is Amy Jirsa. Jirsa plays a dog named Sylvia in the UNL Theatrix production of A.R. Gurney’s play “Sylvia,” which opens tonight in the Temple Building’s Studio Theatre. me play, directed by K.athy Dudley, tells the story of Greg - an unhappy financial trader who finds a dog named Sylvia in the park. Greg brings Sylvia home, but his wife, Kate, is less than pleased with the sit uation. Kate views Sylvia as a hassle and a distraction. As Greg obsesses more and more about Sylvia, Kate becomes more and more jealous. The play’s cast said they had been challenged to establish relationships with a character who was supposed to be a dog. To make the character of Sylvia real, Dudley and Jirsa translated Sylvia’s actions into human terms. Instead of licking characters like a dog, Sylvia gives them hugs and kiss es. Instead of a dog collar, Sylvia wears a locket. “When you watch (the play), I think you forget that (Sylvia) is a dog,” Jirsa said. “She’s just a charac ter who can’t ignore her instincts. Her intentions are completely innocent.” Kris Kling, who plays Greg, described Sylvia as a person with a dog attitude. “Greg may scratch Sylvia behind fcfc (Sylvia) is never without energy. She is all over the stage and crazy and loud and obnoxious Amy Jirsa actress who plays ‘Sylvia’ the ears, but I think he sees her as another woman,” Kling said. “She combines human characteristics with animal ones.” However, Amy Rafa, who plays Kate, said she decided early on to view Sylvia as more of a child than a dog. “She constantly needs attention and care,” Rafa said. “The way Kate relates with her is, therefore, more like an adult with a child.” Jirsa said playing a dog chal lenged her to find new levels within a character. “(Sylvia) is never without ener gy,” Jirsa said. “She is all over the stage and crazy and loud and obnox ious, but she wants real things like security and love.” Jirsa added that she identified with Sylvia’s needs and the way she followed her instincts. “She’s not selfish,” Jirsa said. “She just goes for what she wants. She can’t understand why she should n’t have what she needs.” Dudley said the way the actors identified with their characters was representative of the growth she had seen during the rehearsal process. “Every night has been a journey,” she said. “Early on, I could tell the cast knew who their characters were vocally. Then, I could see a physical progression. Eventually, the scenes became identifiable units where you could see the characters trying to get what they want.” Chris Wachholz, who plays three characters, said Dudley’s directing style helped the actors make the pro gression. By being receptive to the cast’s ideas and opinions, Dudley made the actors feel more involved in the production, Wachholz said While directing the show, Dudley tried to emphasize the play’s deeper meanings about sharing through the production’s technical aspects, she said. All the scenes share the same basic set, and chairs and couches double for desks and beds. “When you care about somebody, you’re goirig to share things that you didn’t necessarily want to or plan on sharing,” Dudley said. “We’ve tried to make the entire show indicative of that.” “Sylvia” runs tonight and Friday night at 8, and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $3 at the door. Though a comedy, the play contains language that may not be suitable for children. m, Jg I | | # p f i f* i p. Mf h Lincoln’s First Class BUMarfi • 30 Brunswick • Electronic • 6 Televisions • Spirits • Darts A g Happy Hour Prices Monday-Friday t0:30 am - • Pitcher-$3.75 • Glass--$.85 • Bottle--$1.45 • Well Drink--$1,35 flSBUSSUUSSUUSSSHUHBBUUUI Tournaments Stantitp at 7:30 ^ • Monday Night 8-Ball $7.00 • Tuesday Night 9-Ball $15.00 Shake It Earn the cash you need for school...and to make the holidays cool. After training you set your schedule to earn the maximum hourly wage. We currently have openings lor: Day or Evening Teleservices Representative r—*"ie Evening/Weekend Teleservices Representative -