SUMMER OF LUV: UNIVERSITY'S SUMMER THEATER HITS THE ROAD

The Southeast Missouri State University summer touring theater is taking "LUV" on the road.

Every summer, members of the university theater department choose a play to perform for people in area communities, according to Tara Wendenect, publicity assistant for the theater.

This year, Murray Schisgal's comedy "LUV" is the featured performance. It was one of the most popular attractions on Broadway from 1964 to 1967.

The cast consists of three characters. Ellen Manville is portrayed by Kara Cracraft of Cape Girardeau; Harry Berlin is played by Matthew Garner of Sikeston, and the part of Milt Manville is played by Arthur Wilhite of Cape Girardeau.

"Luv" is set in New York City, and focuses on the fact that love is the most cherished yet the most feared emotion. The play takes a serious theme and adds plenty of comedy.

"This is a really neat play," Cracraft said. "It's kind of an absurd comedy. It's almost like a soap opera because it happens too fast.

"At the beginning, I'm married to Milt; our marriage has fallen apart because he is love with someone else. So he tries to throw Harry and myself together. I fall in love with Harry in the first act and fall back in love with my husband in the second act."

Each of the three actors not only act in the play, but also help in its production. The cast, plus John Christopher Dick and Robert F. Hout comprise the production crew. The production manager is Steve Weiss, who is also the assistant technical director.

The actors, production crew and director, Robert W. Dillon, Jr., will all be touring this summer. Ellen Dillon is the managing director, and Dennis C. Seyer is both the technical director and the lighting and scenic designer.

The actors will make five stops on the tour, including Sesser, Ill., Dyersburg, Tenn., East Prairie, Cape Girardeau and Ste. Genevieve. Their first show, in Sesser, is Friday. The East Prairie show is Sunday.

They will give two performances in Cape Girardeau on June 19 and 20 at the Forrest H. Rose Theater on campus before their final performance in Ste. Genevieve June 28.

"We're only going to four places," Cracraft said. "Last year we went to seven or eight places."

Cutting back on the number of performances and choosing a play with only three characters thus only three actors to take on the road and a simple set are in part a reflection of the budget cutting that has taken place in the theater department Southeast. That was taken into account when selecting "LUV," Wendenect and Cracraft said.

Cracraft said, "`LUV' is so perfect for a touring show: only one set and only three actors."

I think (the budget cuts) were a big consideration. Last year was a Shakespeare play and we had a cast of at least seven or eight plus two crew members."

Wendenect said, "I don't think that the budget is usually a big consideration, but I'm sure that it's a consideration this year, because actors and staff are paid, and because of the budget cuts."

The theater supports its summer tours with various sources of income. Part of the money is generated from ticket sales, and part of it is funded by the university.

A portion of the cost of taking a play on the road is alleviated by requiring the actors to be members of the production crew.

"That's just part of a touring theater," Cracraft said. "Because there are so few people, they have to rely on the actors to help out.

"I think that's taken into consideration when hiring actors and crew members. They probably would like to have actors who have experience with production too."

The scenery for the play is simplistic, Wendenect said. "It's a pedestrian bridge, park benches, light posts and a trash can. That's about it," she said.

Cracraft said, "It's deceptively simple. In the past they've tried to travel as lightly as possible."

The performances in Cape Girardeau and Dyersburg will take place on college campuses. The rest of the performances will be in public buildings like the Sesser Opera House.

Last year, the summer touring theater performed "Merry Wives of Windsor," also directed by Dillon.

"Summer shows are usually for older people," Wendenect said. "The older ones are the ones who tend to come out and see it.

"I don't know if that's because the plays are geared for an older crowd or if that's just who shows up."

Cracraft was also in last summer's production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The actress, who has a double major in theater and mass communication public relations, has been involved in several theater productions since she started college in 1988.

"I was in last year's `The Merry Wives of Windsor,'" she said. "I was involved in two touring musicals: `Snoopy' and `The Fantasticks.' The last thing I did was `Chapter Two' and before that `Murder in the Cathedral.'"

The Cape Girardeau performances of "LUV" will start at 8 p.m. at Rose Theatre.

Tickets are $3 and $4 and may be purchased at the box office beginning one-half hour before the performance. No advanced reservations are available.