lanova University Graduate Theatre is set to premiere its production of the renowned play Arcadia at the Court Theatre in the Mullen Center. The show will run until Feb. 22, with performances on each of the weekends. Nyred Jackson is the production’s dramaturg. She supports the production of the show by acting as a literary advisor, researcher and creative collaborator to enhance both the actors’ performance and the audience’s viewing experience. Along with the cast, Jackson spent countless hours perfecting this upcoming performance.
The first important thing that Jackson highlighted was the importance of considering the entire team when discussing how Villanova’s Arcadia would be put together. One challenge they faced was making the play appear historically accurate to the 19th century.
“As there is myself, the director, costume designer, scenic director and prop designers all together as a collective, it was understood that one of our main goals was to design the show as visibly accurate as possible,” Jackson said. “I think that comes through pretty well. [However], one thing about the show that is really nice is that it gives room for the modern perspective and the past to exist in the same room. So, for example, a mug can be on the table during an 18th-century scene, and it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
With Arcadia set to be performed on Villanova’s campus, it is essential to establish connections with the student body. Jackson explored during her time with the cast different takeaways college students could glean from the play about navigating academics, social lives and future professional careers.
“The show follows both what directors often refer to as ‘ancients’ [characters a part of the 18th century storyline] and then the moderns, which in the play refers to the present, but was chosen to be based in the year 1993 when Arcadia first came out,” Jackson explained. “Both the ancients and the moderns deal with being blinded by their own passions, being unable to communicate with other people and constantly showing off in order to put themselves on their own pedestal to hang on to their respective social standings. I think that is the thing to take away: don’t let your passions get in the way of how you communicate with others.”
Although this production of Arcadia is unique to Villanova, the graduate theatre is not the first to produce this show.
“There is a really great audio recording of the play by LA Theater Works that helped with figuring out some of the pronunciation of lines,” Jackson said. “I’d also say Arcadia is a rather underproduced show and is oftentimes considered a very cerebral show, meaning it’s used a lot more in academic settings and less so on stage.”
The role of a dramaturg is especially unique and essential for plays that are underperformed. Jackson plays an integral role in Arcadia and has a wealth of wisdom to share with people in her field.
“I’d say give yourself grace if it’s your first time, but also make sure to have fun,” Jackson said. “Dramaturgy should be about learning, teaching others and less about constant perfection. However, it is a research-based role, and context is a big part of dramaturgy, and it all ends up centering around what the audience should take away from the show. As long as you can figure that out, then you’ve done your job.”
As the cast prepares for their opening night, Jackson shared a unique perspective about their process and into the product that audiences will ultimately see on the stage. As she reflected on her time assisting the production and what it taught her, Jackson picked out a favorite line: “It’s all trivial – your grouse, my hermit, Bernard’s Byron. Comparing what we’re looking for misses the point. It’s what we’re looking for that makes us matter. Otherwise, we’re going out the way we came in.”
Tickets for Arcadia can be purchased at villanovatheatre.org.
