First play of the semester delivers drama, laughter, and unresolved tension

The recent rendition of “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” by student performers from VTSU Castleton combined dramatic moments, comedy, and moments of wonder on stage.

The play, created by Alan Ball, is about five bridesmaids, each with their troubles, secrets, and desires, who hide out during a wedding reception. They bond during the evening over their dislike for the bride and the difficulties of being a woman.

The show left some of its more serious themes unresolved, though, even though the cast was able to inject humor and depth into the performance.

Speaking about her overall experience in the production, Carissa Challinor, who had a noteworthy performance, said, “My experience with the play was overall amazing.”

“There were some low moments where one of us didn’t have our lines memorized or just stressed from being a part of various activities, but in the end, it all worked out,” she said.

The comedic timing was one aspect that played a huge role in the show, Challinor said.

“I would say most of the scenes we did were comedic. I don’t think there was any moment where we truly broke character though. The one that comes to mind is when Frances tells my character and Ella that she wants Billy’s little brother. We would always crack up and smile,” she said.

The audience erupted in laughter during moments like these. It showed the cast’s connection and ability for humor delivery.

On the flip side, at times the play took on heavier topics such as AIDS and the sexual abuse of a minor, issues that felt underexplored by the time the curtain had fallen.

While these themes were introduced with weight and importance, it seemed as though the production didn’t circle back to them, leaving certain plot points unresolved. This created a sense of confusion for the audience, as the balance between comedy and serious moments didn’t always blend seamlessly.

Challinor touched on how she thinks the play’s themes remain relevant today.

“I think the play connects to today by showing the struggles of women. I mean we talked about problems that are still going on today, such as sexual abuse. We also talked about how marriage is still a part of a woman’s identity, and some people today believe it is a woman’s only job,” she said.

Emma Patrissi, a junior, was in the audience last Friday night and commented on the portrayal of these heavy topics.

“The play covered many difficult topics that many people face in this world that may be afraid to admit or tell others about. I think it was able to make a lot of people in this community feel less alone,” Patrissi said.

However, some audience members had a different outlook. Freshman Sofia Lund said she appreciated how some of these subjects were touched on.

“I thought they handled most of the topics covered well. I don’t know if the child molesting was handled well because a lot of the characters had unhelpful emotional reactions that caused the character to feel unsafe. However, I appreciated how the character Mindy normalized being gay and showed how lesbians don’t have one shape or size,” Lund said.

Montgomery Crane, another key cast member, reflected on the emotional depth the show aimed to capture

“With each woman in the show, they all are longing for a form of connection in their lives and a sense of belonging within their group. This is a real feeling that most people, myself included, have felt at one time in their lives,” Crane said.

One of the highlights for both the audience and cast was the intimacy of working with a small group.

“Working with a small cast was so fun. I worked with a small cast before when I was in No Exit last year, so it was fun to experience it again,” Challinor shared.

The performers’ true feeling of friendship boosted the performance, as they rebounded off each other’s energy on stage, demonstrating their close-knit dynamic.

“Having a smaller cast definitely makes shows like this feel more intimate and connected to me personally. You can focus on the relationships with the characters and have fun creating new and interesting moments between each one when you have that stronger connection to your castmates,” Crane said.

Even though “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” dealt with some heavier subjects and left some unanswered questions, it was also full of touching and funny moments.

Despite the desire for a greater understanding of the play’s pressing issues, the audience enjoyed the performance due to the cast’s camaraderie and distinctive talents.