By Liz Eichler
Miami University Theatre’s Everybody by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins is a morality play. “It is about Life–therefore, it is also about death.” Miami University Theatre students do an admirable job getting the main point across: Be Nice. To everyone. It matters.
Guest Director Lindsay Augusta Mercer had a daunting task–to educate and equip these young students with knowledge and philosophical curiosity, keeping the audience engaged, and moving about a challenging theatrical space. Additionally, the twist of this ensemble piece is that the roles are allotted by a lottery system, and they do not know their roles until that performance. I am curious if/how they followed through on that–as THAT would be daunting for any professional ensemble, let alone students.
The Plot of Miami University Theatre’s “Everybody”
Let’s start with the story: In this allegorical play, Death comes for Everybody, who must seek a companion for Everybody’s journey to the afterlife. So Everybody connects with Friendship, Kinship, Stuff (or Goods in the original), etc. and doesn’t find anyone to go. Until Love shows up–and says yes.
This is a medieval morality play, based on Everyman – which is also based on a Buddhist morality play we are told by the Usher (Sara Rose Detwiler, who channels your favorite school teachers–and God). The story has been around a long time, but it bears re-telling. It also bears some contemplation of your own. Would your friends join you on a journey to the afterlife? Would your family? What else leaves us–or stays– as we journey or age? And then, finally, what is celebrated about us when we do leave? This show underlines that it is only Love.
The play is written with a lot of philosophical jags (perhaps the kind that develop during a smoke-filled dorm room, or after a few drinks). The young cast does their best to capture the angst and deep curiosity of life and the afterlife. There is a lot to think about and chew on in this 90-minute play.
Performances
Because everyone is listed as “Ensemble” in the program, it took a bit of internet sleuthing to connect names with roles on the day I saw the show. The entire ensemble includes: Sara Rose Detwiler, Rickey Ricker, Lee Trout, Annabel Rimmer, Hannah Vorderer, Isaiah Christian, Danielle Todd-Harris, Caroline Martin, Benjamin Jones, and Mallory Garrett.
Death (Rickey Ricker) is strong–and well costumed. Everybody (Danielle Todd-Harris) is strong and when Love (Benjamin Jones) and Everbody meet, wow, the play is elevated and it is a wild roller coaster to the end.
In this playing space, which is like a gymnasium, the actors have to act with their whole bodies, so the audience behind them understands what they are doing and saying as well as the ones they are facing. Most of these students really understand this assignment and show strong physical performances as well as vocal performances. Caroline Martin and Hannah Vorderer do exceptional jobs in this.
Design Elements
The playing space in Miami’s Black Box is unique–you are staring across at the audience as well as the performers. This set up works for this show and Gion DeFrancesco has kept the stage elements simple. There are very effective other-wordly sounds (Jason Sebastian), projections (Ben Trader), lighting (Shane Wertheiser) effects, as well as costume effects (Meggan Peters). And you know you are in Ohio when the afterlife includes a game of cornhole.
Overall
This is a great opportunity to see a modernized version of a medieval morality play. It is not preachy. At times it is very funny. It will leave you thinking, which is the purpose of a morality play. Check in on yourself.
It is even more effective when you attend a funeral on the day after seeing this show. When you witness the enormous amount of love a family and community have for a person. We, the living, can experience the vacuum of loss when a person moves on. She leaves with love. But that love remaining exists because she walked with love during her life, while being sassy, strong and direct. She left with Love, but Love remains. We can walk with love, too.
Tickets to Miami University Theatre’s “Everybody”
Everybody runs through October 6. Get your tickets at the Miami University Box Office HERE.
