Reckless (2008)
“With ‘RECKLESS’ … Mr. Lucas has given us a bittersweet Christmas fable for our time — ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ as it might be re-imagined for a bruising contemporary America in which homelessness may be a pervasive spiritual condition rather than a sociological crisis … ‘RECKLESS’ … has a simple emotional pull akin to that of a Crosby ballad born of the lonely World War II home front, it yanks us through every conceivable absurdist hoop, fracturing narrative, language and characterization on the way to its rending destination.” —The New York Times
Erika DeBoer as Rachel
Erika DeBoer of Mitchell, Neb., plays the central figure of Rachel. Forced to flee for her life from her house and family on Christmas Eve, Rachel is set adrift in time and space through an absurd world of TV shows, conspiring coworkers and endless psychiatrists as she seeks a place where it’s always Christmas. If “Reckless” is a reworking of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” then she is George Bailey.
Approaching the Role
“My role as Rachel is probably the most challenging I’ve never encountered because she is so optimistic and full of life. She is like a child, ever forgiving and hopeful. I have to tell myself day after day to quit reacting to these absurd events like anyone else would and to approach them with joy and sugar coat the consequences.”
The Production
“As far as this production goes, it is completely in the round with audience members completely surrounding us about five feet away. There is very little scenery and it's as if my character can’t keep up with her own life. I run from scene to scene, trying to ‘catch up’ with myself basically. Very interesting and different!”
Thoughts for Prospective Students and Audience Members
“I think you need to approach the production the way we have had to as performers. You have to accept that this is an absurd play and to look at it differently from everyday life. I guess, prepare yourself for what kind of play you're going to. It’s a challenge but a fun one. Truthfully, no one wants to see everyday events anyway. This play is far from any of that!”
Jesse Hamer as Tom, Man in the Mask and Tom Jr.
Approaching the Role
“For this show I’m playing three roles: Tom, Rachel’s husband who tries to have her killed. This role was the most fun because it’s high energy. Erika DeBoer (Rachel) and I had to work on timing because our lines run on top of each other. The next role I play is the man in the mask, this one is a blast because I get to play with a gun. And the final character is Tom Jr., Rachel’s son. This was weird because I had to have my own spin on Tom, but with Tom Jr., Roger Mays (professor of theatre) and I talked about putting some of Rachel’s characteristics in Tom Jr. to show the correlation between Tom Jr. and Rachel.”
The Production
“This production was interesting because of how short the scenes are. There are times when a scene is only half a page. This show is one of those weird ones that people will leave and know they saw something interesting, and might look at their loved ones in a different light.”
Thoughts for Prospective Students
“To the prospective theatre students this is my last show and I’m still learning with every show. Because of the nature of this show and the different characters I have to play, my experience on stage is much broader.”
Colton Neidhardt as Lloyd Bophtelophti
Approaching the Role
“My character’s name is Lloyd Bophtelophti, a man whose last name is nearly as complicated as his past. Lloyd is a character who constantly floats between the pleasures of his new life and the mistakes of his previous marriage. My approach to playing Lloyd was very simple … listen, and behave as truthfully as I possible could. Lloyd, as many characters in Reckless do, lives a double life. He is, simply put, an honest person with a dishonest past.”
The Production
“The most challenging aspect of this show is how we bounce around in time and space. Many of the scenes are only a page long, and some scenes are as short as five lines. An entire year can pass over the course of five pages of dialogue. This can be challenging at times, especially in terms of character development, because as an actor you cannot be certain of everything that has happened to this character throughout the course of the show, as you can with most plays.”
Thoughts for Prospective Students
“To prospective theatre students I would have to say that my decision to attend Chadron State College has certainly not been something I regret. The education I am receiving especially through the theatre department has opened the doors for me to work in summer repertory theatre with some of the best young professionals in the country. The academics are also top notch and have allowed me to explore all aspects of theatre. The most important part is that we have all developed a sense of family within our program. I think this is very important when looking at what college you want to attend especially since theatre is a highly collaborative art. We are a tight knit group that creates amazing theatre … what more could you ask for?”
Amanda Pintore as Pooty
Approaching the Role
“My character in the show is Pooty. She is deaf and disabled and, like many in this show, has quite a few things to hide. This is a character very different from any that I have played. My approach to this role has been to communicate my emotions in my face and body as much as possible since I communicate through sign language. I have also tried very hard to accustom myself to moving naturally in a wheelchair. It has been a challenge that I wanted to be true to.”
The Production
“There are two things that make this show very interesting. First, the rules of time and space are often ignored. Our acting space is small and characters are often flowing in and out of scenes with no evident break between the two (such as a blackout or scene change). Second, the scenes are often quick and can jump anywhere from the next moment to numerous years. This allows the story to cover a lot.”
Thoughts for Prospective Students and Audience Members
“The only thing I could tell prospective theater students and theater goers about this production is that it must be viewed with an open mind. The plot can often twist, characters are not who you think they are, and there is a surprise or two in store. Coming to this show eager to see something different will allow the viewer to really become a part of the show.”