South examines stereotypes of young women

By Jonathan Resendez/south news editor

With no original script to follow, South Campus theater students are preparing for Women’s History Month with the release of their next production.

Medea & Louise: A Look at Friends, “Frenamies,” and Messages in the Media is a surrealistic drama put together entirely from scratch by the cast. The production examines the views and stereotypes associated with today’s young women.

The cast scoured different forms of media that depict pop culture’s effects on youth for material to use in the play. No stereotype is neglected as the characters discuss everything from text messaging to buying shoes.

The story follows Medea, played by student Heather Dyer, through a typical day at her mall job mopping floors and encountering various other young people. Monologues and character-specific scenes offer insight to Medea, who harbors an ominous secret, as well as the thoughts of the other characters.

Dyer, who has worked with Momentum Production Company and other DFW theaters, also choreographed the dance sequences featured throughout the play. Dance numbers are used as transitions throughout the play as well as to depict surrealistic scenes like nightmares.

“I have to put the same amount of energy into the acting as I do the choreographing,” Dyer said. “You really have to go with the flow and keep a high energy so the intense atmosphere doesn’t get to you. It’s all about making it come together, which Lindy has never failed at.”

Lindy Benton-Muller, drama instructor and director of Medea & Louise, said the play’s lighthearted look at the world of young women is a modern Cinderella story without a Prince Charming. 

Students Emily Villareal, Jana Stukanov and Soldgie Dennis play the stereotypically vain, shopaholic girls. Sarah Green portrays an innocent mall employee whose job requires pestering the other characters about their current life situation for a survey. The interaction among the girls provides a humorous look at their view of modern life.

“Every audience member, young and old, will be able to relate to at least some of the scenes,” Dyer said.

Green’s character name-drops dozens of celebrities in one of her scenes, adding to the play’s modern feel. She said bringing ideas to the show has been the biggest challenge, but the closeness of the cast makes it a fun experience.

“We have become very comfortable with each other,” Villareal said. “With the scenes being either really funny or depressing, we have no choice but to be close and trust each other.”

The play also features a supporting cast of young men, played by Clifford Benson, Matthew Aldini, Ryan Conner and Justin Veltman, in various roles.

“The chemistry has been real good. Gathering information and putting it in front of the camera to see what works has been a good experience,” said Benson, who also takes on the role of a female character he created for the play.

Benton-Muller keeps her cast focused throughout rehearsal as they bounce ideas off one another and add or omit things as she sees fit. She said she did not impose any ideas on the cast while they compiled material for the production.

“It’s their voice. It’s timely. It’s them, right now, as theater students getting to say what matters to them,” she said. “It’s not like a play written by a playwright. It’s an evening of theater produced entirely by students. They can truly express themselves without trying to be something else.”

The production will run 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-28 in the SPAC Performance Hall on South Campus.

Tickets are $6 for the public, $3 for seniors and non-TCC students and free for TCC students, faculty and staff.

The play contains adult themes and situations. No late seating allowed.