On Thursday, May 11, 2023, the Gustavus Adolphus College Theater Department will open its spring production Fewer Emergencies under the direction of Professor Henry MacCarthy. Thursday’s performance will begin at 8:00 p.m. and the production will run through Sunday, May 14. Tickets are on sale now at gustavustickets.com.
Fewer Emergencies, written by Martin Crimp, is an example of powerful theatre minimalism where the distinctions between theatre performance and narration are contested. Crimp has often been considered a “radical innovator” for the way his work often feels caught between the mundane and the magical.
Fewer Emergencies is the Honors Project of senior English and Theater major Sam Peters. Peters says “Fewer Emergencies is a deliberately ambiguous script. There are no established character names, no stage directions, and no setting. Because of these hazy parameters, it’s been difficult to get a clear picture of how to portray my character, and what motivates the action in the show. To find out the answers, it’s been a long process of experimentation and trial-and-error.”
These challenges have also been the best part of the process, says Peters. “For me, the play’s uncertainty has been highly engaging –we’ve been lucky enough to invent our own solutions and bring the script to life in a way that is completely our own.”
When asked what else the audience should know before seeing the production Peters says “Fewer Emergencies encourages the audience to question and come up with their own interpretations of what they see onstage. We’ve worked hard to create a compelling narrative from a minimalist script, and I think everyone will find something that sticks with them in the play.”
Fewer Emergencies show times are from May 11 to May 13 at 8:00 p.m. and on May 14 at 2 p.m. in Anderson Theater at Gustavus Adolphus College. This production contains adult themes and it is not suitable for children. If you would like information on specific content warnings, please contact Kristi Borowy at kborowy@gusavus.edu