Mystery, tension and the weight of unspoken truths take center stage as the SE drama department brings Steve Yockey’s ‘The Thrush and the Woodpecker’ to life April 23–25.
Directed by Drew Hampton, SE associate professor of drama, the play draws audiences into a quiet home of a mother and son deep in the woods where serenity fades and tension simmers when an unexpected guest arrives.
“There’s this idea that sometimes you have a decision to make, and no matter which direction you choose, you gain something, but it also cost you something,” Hampton said. “There’s also a lot built in about loving and loving family and what that means to different people.”
He describes the story as unlike anything else he’s encountered — even after a decade since first being introduced to the play he still finds the play’s twist shocking.
“I’d be very surprised if anybody had heard a story like this before,” he said. “Still, when that bomb gets dropped, I get chills of like ‘Oh my God, what if this actually happened to somebody?’ It’s a very unique story.”
The cast of four actors, Mia Jimenez, Noah Flores, Dayen Cruz and Aaya Meneihneh, brings both experience and chemistry to the stage. Hampton has worked with them before and said that familiarity has made the quick rehearsal process feel smoother.
“I told them on our first rehearsal I feel blessed to work with them,” he said. “All are experience and know what to do.”
Cruz, who plays Roisin Danner, said this has been her most demanding role yet.
Having acted since she was young, she’s used to playing lighter roles, but this time, she’s tapping into a far darker side.
“I’m not naturally mean, and you can tell she’s very aggressive,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to be as aggressive in other shows. Normally I’m the one falling in love or the damsel in distress.”
To prepare, Cruz immersed herself in intense, unsettling media that mirrors Roisin’s complexity.
“She’s determined, knows what she wants and there is so much to her,” she said. “I don’t like watching stuff like this, but watching really sadistic, menacing, evil stuff will help find her a little.”
Flores, who plays Noah Hendricks, said he shared similar ideologies to his character despite coming into the role with little time to prepare.
“I didn’t know the full show before going into it but [after] going in to edit the script, I read the story and by the end of it I was very excited … It’s a very interesting story,” he said. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘Wow this is really cool. I’m happy to be a part of it.’”
For Jimenez, who plays Brenda Hendricks, the suspense hits hardest in the final moments of the play, when all three characters are onstage together.
“There’s a scene where all three characters are together at the end of the play and something bad is about to happen and I try to get my son out of the room,” she said. “It’s very tense, and I mean, the audience is kind of scared of like ‘What’s going to happen next?’”
The choice to stage “The Thrush and the Woodpecker” came when a previously planned play was rescheduled, forcing Hampton to think fast and go with a smallercast production he already knew well.
“I jumped in and had to quickly figure out what would work with a small cast,” he said. “Back in 2014 I auditioned for the very first production of it, so I was familiar with it. It’s one of those moments where I’m excited to work on it, and I think it’s a good fit for the students.”
The play is suggested for mature audiences with children under 6-years-old not being admitted. It will be held in the C.A Robertson Theatre on SE Campus. Admission is pay what you can with all proceeds supporting TCC-SE Drama activities and scholarships.
