Building fantastical worlds from crates, sticks and spoons, Texas Theatre and Dance presented Finegan Kruckemeyer’s “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing,” from Oct. 9-18 at Oscar G. Brockett Theatre.
Directed by Ishu Ishu and Joshua Rashon Streeter, the play follows triplets, Albienne, Beatrix, and Carmen, who navigate life after their father abandons them in the woods. Providing a tale of love, family and happiness on life’s great journey, the interactive performance connected with the audience through charming scenes and heartwarming themes.
“If you are clear what you want to do in your life, if you want to be happy, (if) you want to achieve something, (then) keep moving,” co-director and MFA candidate Ishu said. “That’s a beautiful message we convey through this (play) because every human has a different story.”
To build the sisters’ world, the play relied on audience participation and non-linear scenes. Many cast members took on different roles, including narrating the play.
“They (cast members) all are storytellers,” Ishu said. “ We imagine we are building a lighthouse, so we build together.”
Including cast members in the creative process, Ishu said the production’s making involved collaboration, learning and mutual trust.
“I started making this dish (the play) and people loved it,” Ishu said. “They loved the smell, they loved the color, they loved everything and they joined it. Because I have a vision, I know how this dish will cook.”
Ava Gassen, a theatre and dance junior, who played Carmen, said preparation for the show involved about four to six rehearsals a week and extensive practice outside the rehearsals. When preparing for the show, Gassen studied how other actors portrayed Carmen and developed her character arc.
“(I have) a lot of passion for my character specifically,” Gassen said. “Because I think she’s often very misunderstood in other productions that I have seen, and (I’m) really trying to work on my take on her and what I wanted to do with her.”
Acting sophomore Giulianna Coco, who portrayed Beatrix, said she wants the audience to derive inspiration from the sisters’ love and optimism throughout their struggles.
“My hope is that each audience member sees themselves within one of the sisters, whether it’s taking different parts of each sister or they find one sister that they really identify with,” Coco said. “ There’s just a very important message of staying true to yourself and … about family, holding onto those you love most.”
Stori Jasper, an acting sophomore who plays Albienne, said she hopes the play inspires young audiences. Although Saturday marked their last campus show, the cast will perform at K-12 schools from Oct. 28 through Dec. 2.
“It’s important for the youth to see that your circumstances, your family situations, your siblings, your parents –– no one can define you and where you’re going in life,” Jasper said. “You choose what direction you want to go, follow it, and everything else will come into place.”