For its final show of the season the Indiana Repertory Theatre presents the world premier of "Interpreting William." The fascinating play is the work of the theater's playwright-in-residence, James Still. It splits its time between the life of frontiersman William Conner, of Conner Prairie fame, and the present day character Bill Montgomery, who is a professor attempting to finish his book about Conner.Anna is a caffeine-addled, former professor who inspired Bill during his days as an undergrad. Her life has since disintegrated in many ways, but her razor sharp wit has not dulled. She is wonderfully written and brought to life with perfect execution by Carmen Roman. Her quick quips are captivating to watch and clearly cover a deeper pain. The show is at its best when Anna and Bill are conversing. They have a perpetual student/teacher dynamic that fuels discussions.
Still's greatest strength in this show, as well as in his past IRT productions, is his ability to capture human emotions that every audience member can identify with. No matter what the play's circumstances are, we can all relate to feelings of loss, inadequacy or pain. He creates complex characters whose base emotions are simple.
The plot is thought provoking and challenges the way we view both historical events and our own personal history. Everyone looks at things through their own lens of personal experience and it can be difficult to understand the decisions another person makes.
The show has some adult language and isn't appropriate for young kids. For more information about IRT's upcoming season visit irtlive.com.
Don't Miss the Show
Performances: The show runs until Saturday, May 31 on IRT's Mainstage. Times for performances can be found at www.irtlive.com or by calling the IRT box office at (317) 635-5252.
Tickets: To purchase tickets call (317) 635-5252 or order online at www.irtlive.com Prices begin at $39.
The Indiana Repertory Theatre is located at 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, one-half block west of the Circle Center Mall between northbound Illinois Street and southbound Capitol Avenue.
Photo Courtesy of the Indiana Repertory Theatre
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