By Spencer Bates

Opening on Feb. 24, SUNY Oswego’s Blackfriars student production of “A Play Where Nothing Happens,” will feature common struggles that audience members will be able to relate to.

Touting heartfelt special moments over intense sequences of action, the production follows a recent high school graduate and her best friend as they prepare for her transition from high school to college. Claire Bosley, who plays lead character Anna, described how while it may be different from other plays in terms of structure, certain moments make up for it.

There’s no big climactic moment,” Bosley said. “But it’s all these beautiful little moments that are being romanticized and presented to the audience as something that is really special.”

Described as a coming-of-age production, the characters’ development of their emotions and identities are on full display as the cast is made up of only four members. According to senior Kayla Elfers, the director of the play, this allows for much more impactful and special moments.

“Because there are only four characters, I would say that it makes the work way more intimate and more special during the rehearsal process,” Elfers said. “I think it allows actors to really evolve their character in a more quiet space.”

The cast members are also finding the smaller cast size to be working in their favor. The chemistry developed on and off the stage is something that Bosley has been happy about.

“I think small casts are great,” Bosley said. “Being able to kind of personally get to know each one of the members of your cast, and have a relationship with each of them, allows you to explore this kind of strong character bond between each of the people in the show, each of the characters that you’re playing.”

Other than the heartfelt momets, the relatability of the production is something that is being heavily advertised. Problems that are being dealt with throughout the play are made so that the audience will resonate with the characters and the production as a whole. Senior Jennifer Saint Fleur, the assistant director for the show, describes how easily the concept of the play will be grasped by all.

“We spend our whole lives deciding what we’re going to do and plan out everything,” Saint Fleur said. “One of our characters is going through a big change in her life … change doesn’t have to be so scary, and you don’t have to have your life figured out in order to live it.” 

Natalie Griffin, who is set to play Anna’s best friend in the production, will be hoping to impress not only the audience but playwright Maizy Broderick Scarpa as well as this will be one of the first times the play will be on stage. 

“There’s some pressure with that because we want to do it justice, but at the same time it’s a little liberating,” Griffin said. “When you perform something like Shakespeare, the audience and everyone already knows those roles and they know the characters … but with this, they’re brand new, so people can’t really already come in with their own preconceived ideas as to how those characters should be.”

The show will premiere on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. with additional shows at the same time the following two days as well as 2:00 p.m. matinees on Feb. 26 and 27. Tickets are available from tickets.oswego.edu, and are free for SUNY Oswego students.

Image via Blackfriars student production