The Quick Fix, a reality-based theater group out of New York University, performed Wednesday night to a sold-out house of 540 in the first of two shows in the EMU Ballroom.
The troupe’s cast members have been among the student population since Sunday, and they have spent the week living with and learning about University students and their views on addiction. Over the past few days, the cast interviewed students and faculty and led 14 different workshops around campus, EMU marketing coordinator Lee LaTour said.
All of this interaction with the University community was integrated into their ballroom performance.
The purpose of the performance and the week on campus is to provoke discussion about all addictive behaviors, said Stephen Wangh, the show’s director.
“The Quick Fix aims to stimulate us to … rethink the assumptions we make about who is running our lives,” Wangh said.
The show used many different methods to address addiction; monologues, group scenes, singing and instruments “kept the audience interested,” said senior Nicole Barrett, who attended the performance.
“You don’t just have 10 people standing there telling their stories like an (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting,” Barrett said.
Different forms of addiction, such as alcoholism and drug abuse, were illustrated in The Quick Fix, but the show also addressed romance, e-mail and eating as prominent daily addictions.
“It was good to see a focus on other issues of addiction — not just the stereotypical abuse,” junior Wayne Bund said.
Almost all of the dialogue was taken from real-life interviews conducted by the troupe. These interviews told the stories of many individuals who have dealt with addiction, as well as addiction experts and a tobacco executive.
The interviews were memorized by the cast word-for-word and turned into dramatic literature.
Some of these interviews were conducted just days ago at the University, bringing the issue closer to home.
“Putting the campus culture into the play definitely made it more real,” said Sheryl Eyster, associate dean of student life.
Cast member Ginger Legon said there was a definite connection between the people on stage and those in the seats.
“I really felt a relationship
between the actors and the audience,” Legon said. “They responded to the situations that they could relate to.”
Another sold-out audience is expected for tonight’s performance at 7 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, nearly 100 tickets were left for the show. Students can attend for free, but they must obtain tickets from the UO Ticket Office. University faculty and staff admission is $5 and general admission is $10.