(Seguin) — A Pulitzer Prize winning play comes to the Texas Theatre for several shows this weekend. The drama “Wit,” written by Margaret Edson, is being presented Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the historic theater in downtown Seguin. The production is a collaboration between dramatic media students from Texas Lutheran University and some well known actors from past performances at the Texas Theatre.
“Wit” is the winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It also earned the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, and the Oppenheimer Award. It was adapted into an Emmy Award-winning television movie, directed by Mike Nichols and starring Emma Thompson. It tackles timeless questions, like living and dying. It’s the story about a brilliant professor, who has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. The role is portrayed by local actress Mary Jane Windle.
Will Hicks, a dramatic media student at TLU and the director of the show, says Windle does an amazing job bringing this character to life. He says it’s a compelling performance, that is sure to connect with the audience.
“It just really makes you think about what is happening, and what you want your legacy to be. When you watch it, you really start thinking about your own life, your own mortality, and what do you want to be remembered as.
I don’t want to give away too much of the play, but her whole struggle was that she wanted to be remembered for her studies and for her research — lived through that culture. But instead, she’s now being remembered for her dying — for her own death. So, (it explores) …how much you can control your own life, and how much you’re willing to give up to make your own legacy,” said Hicks.
Hallie Strange is a dramatic media student at TLU and serves as the show’s technical director. She says this is an incredible story. It may not be the feel-good story that some audiences might be used to, but she says it will leave an impact on all those who come to see the show.
“It really makes you think about, not only your connections with yourself, but connections with other people. I think…a really, really important part of this show is relationships between people, and unexpected friendships, and how other people perceive you is a really important part of this story. How you perceive yourself is (also) a big part of it. It makes you reflect a lot on that part of life. And while going into it, it doesn’t sound like it’s going to make you happy. You’re not going to leave this theater feeling super happy, but you’re going to leave this theater with a different perspective on other people and on people who may come across as more callous or more angry. And I think that’s really beautiful,” said Strange.
Windle’s portrayal, of the character Vivian Bearing, has been a challenge for the seasoned actress. She says it’s a big role and it explores some big questions about life and what it all means.
“What I’ve noticed is that it’s really all about kindness. It’s about how it doesn’t matter what your passion is in life, (but) how you interact with others and offering grace to others is critically important. And she reflects back on how she didn’t, when she could have,” said Windle.
There are four performances of “Wit” scheduled for this weekend. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with matinees set for 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 for reserve seating, $15 for general admission and $5 for TLU students. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thetexas.org, or at Gift & Gourmet, Keepers or at the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce. A portion of ticket sales will go to the American Cancer Society.