Share:

“In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play,” written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by the Assistant Professor of Performing and Communication Arts Whitney Rydbeck, opened Friday to a rather surprised audience.

The title is enough to allow a well educated guess of the plot of the play.

“It was definitely something I didn’t expect,” said Jason Murphy, business. “It was good, don’t get me wrong, but different. I seriously didn’t think it would be about vibrators.”

Set in the 1880s at the start of electricity, Dr. Givings treats mostly female patients diagnosed with hysteria by giving them a “pelvic electric massage”.

Things become complicated when his wife wants to know and get involved in what he’s doing after she becomes friends with the new client, Mrs. Daldry, and one of the few male patients Leo Irving, as well as having to hire a nurse for her daughter.

Every character had a subplot and problems to face, so no role was a small one.

The set was very elaborate and well crafted. Complete with furniture, a working piano, wallpaper, and paintings, as well as a room in the back to serve as the medical area, one could barely recognize the small stage.

The costumes were the most impressive though, almost each character getting two costume changes between the two acts.

Each represented the time period well, the ladies donning beautiful dresses and the gentlemen in their vests and ties.

The acting was well done as well. The seven actors made it very easy to feel sympathy for the characters when unfortunate events happened as well as be fully invested in the plot line.

All sets, costumes, lights, and sound were built and put together by PCC students in several theater arts classes.

 “It always had my attention for sure. It wasn’t what a person would expect to see at a college play, which gives it an edge. The costumes were my favorite,” said Ashley Williams, fashion design.

The play ran Nov. 9 – 10.

Follow: