All’s Fair in Love and War

Would it be much of a surprise if the same play that got a man into a life of theatre would be the same play he would choose to top off his 49-year career of teaching and directing? That’s exactly what Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is to the man, USM faculty member William Steele.

The 1962 American classic by Edward Albee captured Professor Steele’s attention in 1964 in a bookstore in York, Maine, and changed his life forever. Now the USM Department of Theatre presents this emotionally charged classic from April 22 to May 1 on the Main Stage at Russell Hall.Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday shows are at 5 p.m., Tickets are $15 adult, $11 seniors, USM employees and alumni, and $8 students, and can be purchased online at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=54332, by phone at 207-780-5151, or in person. Wednesday’s is “5 at 5” day, when all tickets for the 5 p.m. performance are $5.

“I chose Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? as my final show at USM because it’s my favorite play, the one that got me into theatre in the first place.” Steele calls the show “thought provoking” as you visit the home of Martha (Meghan O’Brien) and George (Luke Benning) and eavesdrop on their struggle to find meaning in their lives. Steele, along with Shannon Zura, scenic/sound designer, also chose to turn the Main Stage into theatre in three-quarter-round, an audience seating arrangement that will bring the audience right onto the stage and into the living room of Martha and George, as they warn Nick (Martin Bodenheimer) and Honey (Brittany Burke) of the relationship perils that lie ahead.

“It’s powerful stuff,” says Steele.

Meaghan O’Brien describes the intense character work required of the actors, with its wide range of emotions and maturity, ambitious for a college-level performance. Competitively cast from among USM students, O’Brien credits Professor Steele with assembling a diverse cast that is a perfect mix. They all work differently, and have been working together on the production since December. O’Brien feel privileged to be working with Steele.

“I like the way he directs; he wants it to be real.” O’Brien calls the cast’s work with the director an organic experience. She says, “it’s well thought-out. He knows what he wants.” Then she adds that what he wants comes not from the director, but from the actors themselves. Martin Bodenheimer says that working with Professor Steele has been “a rewarding although demanding process. His attention to every detail and moment in the show makes every rehearsal full of discoveries.”

Brittany Burke says that working with Steele is “amazing.” She adds, “this is such a beautiful, deep show. It is definitely one of my favorites I've ever worked on. I think it's about love, connection, and communication. It's been very interesting to play Honey because for almost the entire show she is intoxicated. It's been fun to decide when Honey is coherent enough to understand what is going on and what is just sort of a blur to her. I have loved figuring out who Honey is as a person and trying to bring her to life.”

“This play walks the incredibly thin line between reality and illusion,” says Luke Benning. “George and Martha's sparring calls into question views on ambition, family, society, and love. Every character is going through a great internal struggle whilst trying to manage the drunken onslaught happening around them.” 

The show is heart-wrenching, funny, brutal, and emotionally enthralling, easily meeting the rigorous standards to which the USM theatre-going public has come to enjoy.

To learn more about studying theatre at USM, visit  www.usm.maine.edu/theatre.

Those needing special accommodations to participate fully in this program, contact Lori Arsenault, 207-780-5142, loria@maine.edu. Hearing impaired: call USM's telex / TDD number 207-780-5646.