Lifestyles
csceagle.com | The Eagle | Nov 18, 2021
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Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg
Brennan Ackerman, freshman of Box Elder, South Dakota, as Elder Thomas, and Trista Topil, freshman of Lincoln, as Elle, sit next to each other on the couch during “The Whale” dress rehearsal, Tuesday in the Black Box Theater.
Everything ‘whale’ be alright - tonight u By Teddy Parham Reporter Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg
ABOVE: Olivia Freeze, sophomore of Bridgeport, as Liz massages Charlie’s head, played by Zackary Wellnitz, junior of Rushville, during “The Whale” dress rehearsal, Tuesday in the Black Box Theater. RIGHT: Adeline Beason, sophomore of Byram, Mississippi, holds a cigarette up to her lips during “The Whale” dress rehearsal, Tuesday in the Black Box Theater. Photo by Mackenzie Dahlberg
This isn’t your typical whale watching experience, so you won’t be on a boat, but you will be amazed. CSC theater students and staff will be performing the play “The Whale” for all to come and see this month and next. Big-hearted and fiercely funny, “The Whale” tells the story of a 600-pound man’s last chance at redemption, and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places. “The play touches on so many topics and it isn’t just about a 600-pound man,” Michael Susko, theatre interim director, said. “It’s about family, it’s about regret, it’s about love. I think the audience will be really moved.” The play is very well-known, and according Susko, this play is not usually done in colleges. If you have never heard of this play before, opening night is, Thursday at 7 p.m. They will also have five more showings after this. These times are 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m., Sunday, along with 7 p.m., Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. Susko said he is more than excited for people to
come and see this play and feels his students will go above and beyond to reach every emotion the audience can handle. “I hope the audience is ready to go for this beautiful and emotional ride,” Susko said. As you may know, any good story comes with struggles and that’s just what Susko, and his cast had to deal with. “The cast has worked very hard on finding their roles,” Susko said. “Being able to stay true to their characters, finding the humor, finding the pain in the characters, and most importantly finding the love. I think they’ve succeeded.” The male role of the 600-pound man named Charlie is played by Zackary Wellnitz, junior of Rushville, and the female role of the daughter Elle is played by Trista Topil, freshman of Lincoln. “They will laugh, they will cry, they will experience a beautifully moving piece of theater,” Susko said. Tickets for the upcoming play are free and can be reserved at csc.edu/theatre or you can come to the Black Box Theater on the second floor of Memorial Hall. If you can’t make this play, the theater will be putting on two more shows next semester, “Crimes of the Heart” and “The Lion in Winter,” which you can find more details about online.
