Dark tale of ‘The Pillowman’ teaches audience life lesson

The USD theatre department will be performing a darker play than what’s usually performed.

Entitled “The Pillowman” Feb. 18-22, and director and cast members say there’s a lot to take away from it.

“It’s a really, interesting play and its different from a lot of other plays that gets performed in this area,” said director and third-year MFA directing student Taylor Clemens. “It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea that’s for sure. But I think the content raises the questions about art and I think it’s something that everyone should see and come with an open mind.”

Senior Kristian Asfeldt said there are many reflections that an audience member can make between the play and society today.

“I think that people should come because it’s going to make you think,” Asfeldt said. “Some of the underlying themes are really relevant in our society today. You look at police brutality and how criminals are being treated today and you see a reflection in the show. It’ll give a fresh new perspective to those who haven’t thought about it this way.”

“The Pillowman” is about a writer named Katurian who is being interrogated by police due to his short fiction pieces that are similar to children murders going on in the area.

Clemens said the overall message of the play is looking at art and raising the question of what art is and the meanings of it, and how it can influence and be influenced by society.

The play was chosen because of this message, she added.

“There are a lot of different factors for the department with choosing the play,” Clemens said. “A lot of it has to do with our undergraduates and what would be the most educational for them. For me, I chose this play because when I read the script in my undergraduate days, I fell in love with it and I think it really raises the question of these issues of art and what is art.”

Clemens said the “The Pillowman” is different from other plays she has directed in the past.

“It’s been a challenge working with the actors and working through this dark content. What’s more appealing for the audience is that it really is a thinker and a different play. This one really sticks out in Martin McDonagh’s standing of work.”

The actors each had their own struggles when it came to portraying their characters.

Asfeldt, who plays Ariel, a “bad cop” of the two detectives, said the most difficult part of the play was becoming the character.

“One of the most challenging things for me is that I don’t really look like I can beat people up and I’m not the stereotypical masculine person, so stepping into this role of this very macho-man is a big challenge for me,” Asfeldt said. “It affects how I use my body and voice on stage.”

Junior Trevor Hudson, who plays Katurian, said emotions were more of a challenge for him.

“Really trying to connect and feel the intense moments of the show was the most challenging,” Hudson said. “I think really having those emotions come from a natural and honest play instead of having to force them out and really letting the text take me where the character wants to go is the most challenging.”

Piecing together an entire play in a month has been another challenge for the cast.

“It’s been very challenging, mainly getting the lines learned,” Asfeldt said. “I have had to spend a lot more time outside of practice to memorize lines and work on my character so that when I show up to rehearsal I am ready to go and build more on my character.
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However, the cast and crew believes their efforts have paid off and believe people will find the show interesting.

“What’s really interesting about this show is that it doesn’t answer the question [about art] for you,” senior Walker Iverson, who plays detective Tupolski, said. “It’s unravelling this dark, and sometimes funny, narrative in front of you and asking you to figure it out yourself. And I think that’s because there is no easy answer to the question the show is posing, but it’s something that we need to ask ourselves.”