Eddie is searching to discover himself. Phil lives emotionally from moment to moment. Mickey doesn’t care what happens, as long as he doesn’t get hurt. Three men, one city and a lot of disturbing self-discovery make up David Rabe’s 1980s play “Hurlyburly.”
Deciding to direct the play to satisfy his thesis requirement, Donald Clark Honors College student Gregory Thorson will bring the production of “Hurlyburly” to the Arena Theatre beginning Wednesday. The play features a blend of seasoned University actors, including “Nicholas Nickleby” actors Luke Hamilton, Curtis Williams, Sarah Linder, Sam Super, Darlene Dadras and the director himself.
“All of the actors in ‘Hurlyburly’ have been in award-winning plays,” Thorson said.
Experienced actors are needed for this dark comedy about three Hollywood men and their out-of-control lives. The main character, Eddie (Hamilton), is struggling to discover his true purpose in the world. Analyzing life in a somewhat scientific and Freudian way, Eddie lives life “in the fast lane,” Thorson said. Eddie’s friend Phil (Williams) and roommate Mickey (Cameron Carlisle) have their own difficulties dealing with the fast-paced superficial world they live in. All three turn to parties, sex and self-obsession.
“This is a very depressing and debauched play,” Thorson said. “Yet it’s intelligent at the same time as being disturbing.”
Thorson claims the plot can be darker than that of “American Beauty.” However, he chose the play not for its cynicism, but for its significant themes.
“This is one of my favorite plays and one of the best to come out of the 1980s,” Thorson said. “It shows the way Americans use instant gratification to avoid contemplation.”
Additional characters set the mood for the play and add to the basic plot. Artie (Super), another one of the group’s close friends, frustrates Eddie because of his seemingly undeserved success, Thorson said. Three very different women characters also play an important part of the men’s lives.
“Donna is a runaway from the Midwest who’s given to Eddie and Mickey as sort of a ‘sex package,’” Linder, who plays Donna, said. “She’s somewhat of a mood-setter at the beginning of the play.”
The other women characters include life-in-the-fast-lane Darlene (Lindy Anderson) and lounge singer Bonnie (Dadras).
“All three women characters are manipulated by the men,” Thorson said.
The production, which started to come together in early May, will take the already-adult plot and add a little twist.
“Each night, the props are set up in completely different places without the actors’ knowing where they will be beforehand,” Thorson said.
This technique, Thorson hopes, will add a genuine flavor to every performance by forcing the actors to improvise during scenes.
“It’s a little difficult — [the set changes] — but it’s also exciting. It frees us up to explore the space and subtext of the play,” Williams said.
Because of the set changes, the feel of the play will be a little different each night, but will still posses the same dialogue and reactions as the original play, Williams said.
“Hurlyburly” will be performed through Oct. 6 and will be Thorson’s third University production. Assistant direction is by John Peter Breaden, and Jackie Jacobus is the stage manager.