First-year master’s student in theater arts Scott R. Hall makes his Pocket directorial debut today with “Little Brother, Little Sister,” a 1961 play by British playwright David Campton. Though the 45-minute one-act play goes by fast, it will take the audience some thinking time to understand it.
The play revolves around a brother and sister, Sir and Madam, living in a bomb shelter with their caretaker, Cook. The location and era are ambiguous, but the trio has been there for 20 years, ever since everything was “blown away.” As far as Cook is concerned, they will stay there another 30 years in accordance with a plan that is mentioned only in passing. But Sir and Madam’s growing minds and hormones inspire them to think of larger things — of what may be outside the shelter.
The dialogue in the play is not outstanding, but the way in which information is revealed is very important. At the beginning, Sir and Madam are playing a game with sexual and emotional tendencies that Sir isn’t sure of but can’t resist. Seeing their atrocious behavior, (not that Sir and Madam know why anything is wrong — it’s like “The Blue Lagoon”) Cook begins rambling about a previous pair who got curious and tried to open “the door.”
This is the first Sir and Madam have heard about any door, and it inspires Madam to think about what could be beyond it. She furthers the action, questioning Cook for more information while Sir still tries to hold on to the innocent past.
As Cook, senior theater major Annie Branson plays another caretaker role, following her performance two weeks ago in “Keely and Du.” However, her previous role as Du is completely reversed in this insane, angry, Cockney woman who holds on to her authority as the one reason she has to live. Cook can’t be considered a real person, but Branson uses the opportunity to display her range.
Freshman Adam Rieders, as Sir, and sophomore Nikaline Katsilometes, as Madam, make their first Pocket appearances with this production and both show promise. Both actors realistically show their fear and hatred of Cook and their inexplicable desire for each other.
This play is a thought-provoking piece because it gives no answers and provides little context to look for them. “Little Brother, Little Sister” cannot be taken literally, but it is unclear about just how it should be interpreted. The dominant themes are sexuality, power, influence and growth, but the play leaves itself so broad and undefined that each viewer will walk away with a different perspective.
“Little Brother, Little Sister” runs today, Friday and Saturday in the Pocket Playhouse at 5 p.m. There is a $1 suggested donation.
Mason West is the senior Pulse reporter for the Oregon Daily Emerald. He can be reached at [email protected].