Lafayette Campus News (www.lafayette.edu), September 21, 2007 — Christopher Duru ’10 (New York, N.Y.) is a Posse Scholar majoring in history. He is performing in the upcoming production of 365 Days/365 Plays on Sept. 26-29. The following is a firsthand account of Duru’s experiences during the auditions and the rehearsal process.

When I heard about the concept of 365 Days/365 Plays, I immediately wanted to be involved. However when I learned that the production would be directed by students, some of whom I’ve performed with in previous productions, trepidation set in. I feared my peers would become drunk with power, which often occurs with new found authority. I also had apprehensions as to how qualified the students were to give proper stage direction.

During the auditioning process, my fears were quickly allayed. The directors were very patient and reassuring. On the first night, all the actors, myself included, auditioned in a large group. The bulk of the evening was dedicated to explaining the concept of 365 Days/365 Plays and theater exercises. Actors were also asked to read lines from other plays not involved in the production.

The second night of auditions was call backs, where individual student directors ask you to read for their play. An actor will receive a call back as a result of a general presence, attitude, or originality that caught the attention of a director during the first night of auditions.

I was called back to read for two plays, the first of which was titled “Selling Out.” I was asked to read for the roles of Charley and Joyce, shady “drug dealers” trying to push scripts. The director Catie Thompson described the play as “an elaborate pun.” However, after reading for both roles I remember thinking to myself I don’t get it! The play seemed odd, like it had some deep hidden meaning I couldn’t grasp.

The second of my call backs was for a played titled “A Play for George Plimpton.” The play consisted of two characters, George Plimpton and John Ritter, and presented a “what if” scenario. The director, Elizabeth Whitmer, explained the scene as a chance meeting in heaven between these two iconic figures who were both deceased. After reading for both roles, I again had the feeling of utter confusion as to the overall message of the play.

The next day the cast list was e-mailed and I was elated to discover I was cast as Charley and John Ritter. The rehearsal process was extremely pleasant and flexible; both directors understood the pressures of school work and extracurricular activities. Both directors also openly admitted that they didn’t “get it” either. This created an environment where the actors felt safe to express their own opinions and interpretations.

The casts, ranging from seniors to freshmen, felt like a community of equals where each individual contributed their special portion. During the larger scale tech rehearsals, every cast in the production came together and performed the full show. It was interesting to see the direction other casts took their plays and how they added their own hints of color. It was especially rewarding to see how our work fit into the production. Indeed it felt like our work, something we had cultivated and had a personal stake.