Spring Break
'Moonchildren' provokes some thought
Eric Shirk
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Entertainment
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Though the main characters in "Moonchildren" were college youth who protested the Vietnam War, the reason the director chose this play wasn't to take a stance against the war in Iraq.
"The purpose of theater is to question, and to get people talking," Nauroth said. "[Moonchildren] forces the audience to deal with today by showing 1965 accurately."
Michael Weller's play concerns the lives of a group of college students who live together in 1965.
"Moonchildren" is really a story about growing up. "It's about you deciding what you believe," Nauroth said.
Everyone in college knows the feeling of "trying to make sense out of a world that makes no sense."
The play was not only about life changing as you grow up, but also serious changes happening in the country at that time, said Craig Mahlman who played the wise-cracking jokester Mike.
"Civil rights, the baby boom - this was my parents' time. It's personal to me because my dad was drafted," Mahlman said.
The play applies to the war today, Mahlman said.
"The majority of the people in the U.S. don't even know what's going on over there. This play shows that it is important for us to use our voice, and protest is one way to do that."
"Moonchildren" also deals with being aware of racism.
Mahlman said that he grew up in an Irish neighborhood where racism was prevalent.
"You tend to become a product of your community, and I have to fight that on a daily basis," Mahlman said. "The play speaks volumes to that."
Mahlman spoke glowingly of the job that Nauroth did directing the play.
"She brought this cast together," he said.
"It was perfect, everyone was friends. She used group exercises to bring us together. She's an amazing director; she taught us how to adapt to a crowd."
The fine acting and hard work of the cast and crew made a difference, Nauroth said.
The theater was full on Thursday, and the Friday and Saturday shows were sold out.
But, making the audience think is the most gratifying part, Nauroth said.
The play was very well received, Nauroth said.
People are laughing at the story and telling her that it has made them consider some things about the war that they haven't before.
One of the things Nauroth has heard is: Why aren't people as vocal about the war in Iraq as they were about Vietnam?
And making people think is what this play is about, Nauroth said.