Digging Up Dessa - review

[Jane Zussman]

First of all — YAY — for MSU Summer Circle Theatre in its wonderful, still new-ish amphitheater setting between the Auditorium and Kresge Art Center. Fresh and Free and outdoors-y — but with good lighting and sound and no bugs with plenty of nearby free parking on Auditorium Lane lot. Make a point to check it out every June — now on its 62nd season. It’s free of charge but bring your folding chairs and a few buck$ for the donation boxes and the concession stand.  

MSUSC always features a variety of well done shows. The first this season is Digging Up Dessa, a relatively new script by Laura Schellhardt, directed by Dionne O'Dell. This four-actor play is 70 minutes of feminism and paleontology supported by a skeleton of trauma, loss, anger, resilience and more.

The show begins with a well staged car accident and segues into a campaign against the patriarchy, as long-dead paleontologist Mary Anning (Rileigh Belle Wine) mysteriously appears and Cayla Hadaway (Dessa) angrily takes up Mary's cause to restore her stolen fame as a woman palaeontologist of the 19th century.

The ghost guiding Dessa’s science project also has advice on life and “scientific” ways to examine and adapt to life changes, loss of father, an unwanted move to a new school… The play grows in complexity and humanity as as it progresses through its mere 70 minutes (with one intermission) — as the fascinating characters of Dessa’s mother (Katherine Clemons) and new friend(?) science-project partner Milo (Ben Corsi) appear. These two characters are delightful and funny and unique and sincere — each coping with Dessa’s persistent anger and delusion(?) of Mary Anning’s presence. Take note of all the diverse sound effects (Melina Rodriguez)

This show is appropriate for all ages, though too complex for really young children. Along with the programs and MSU season brochure, they hand out a cute little handbook aimed at older kids, explaining the story, and some history of paleontology and Mary Anning, with a useful glossary of terms. There are MSU Museum fossils on display, too.

Pre and Post Show Entertainment: I’m told that one post show act listed in the program has been cancelled and the others are being rescheduled to cover his dates — so check the website for new dates. The Summer Circle “third act” for tonight was the SCT Cabaret; an Evening of Broadway (which we missed because of coughing issues — ourselves, not the performers, who I assume were wonderful. 

Other “extras” include After School Special Improv; Buck’s Funhouse live filmed podcast with the fun of a game show;  Staged Reading of On the Other Side of the Sea lyrical humorous award-winning play by Jorgelina Cerritos about “documentation”; and Greater Lansing Ballet Company. Full revised schedule of when these “extras” occur is at https://theatre.msu.edu/sct-2/

Digging Up Dessa continues at 7pm through Satuday and then at 4pm Sunday. Title of Show (musical) is June 13-16 nd The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, Revised, Again June 27-30

Jane Zussman

G.L.U.T. List

(Greater Lansing Ubiquitous Theatre)

517-323-6855

cell 517-930-0932

JSZu...@gmail.com

http://www.greaterlansingtheatre.net 

To review past emails as they were sent, click “About the G.L.U.T.” and choose “email list” from the drop-down menu — also check out the all-theatres calendar.

“Like” us on Facebook!