News Article


RSS Subscribe to Gonzaga University's News Service RSS Feed

Dateline: 3/6/2009

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY NEWS RELEASE
Dale Goodwin, Director
Peter Tormey, Associate Director

Students' Theatre to Present Sartre's 'No Exit'
The Drunken Sailor Theatre Troupe, comprised entirely of Gonzaga University theatre arts students, will present Jean-Paul Sartre’s (1905-1980) existentialist play “No Exit” for its inaugural performance with opening night at 6 p.m., Friday, March 20 at the Empyrean Coffee House (154 S. Madison St.).

Every person involved in the play – from the cast to crew to director – is enrolled in the Gonzaga University theatre arts program, said Ashley Newberry, a Gonzaga student handling publicity for the production.

Written in 1944, “No Exit” explores the themes of Sartre’s philosophical arguments about freedom and responsibility. By using the double entendre of characters’ “play-acting,” he invites the audience to reflect on each character’s self-deception as they probe each other’s sins, desires, and unpleasant memories.

As the character attempt to justify their past actions, they are forced to confront the reality that their identities are duplicitous and that they are not who they represent themselves to others as being. The characters’ identities are revealed not by their words but their actions.

The performance also focuses on the “devouring” gaze of the other and the restriction it places on one’s freedom. As the play progresses, each character slowly comes to the realization that hell is simply other people.

The performance continues at 6 p.m. again on March 21 and a 2 p.m. matinee on March 22. Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for adults. To reserve a seat in advance send an e-mail to jvanhoudt@gonzaga.edu. For more information, contact Ashley Newberry at (509) 313-6501 or via e-mail.