Staff Writer
7 / 10
DeKALB | Andras Visky’s “Disciples” under the direction of Christopher
Hibbard is currently playing at NIU’s O’Connell Theatre.

The School of Theatre and Dance welcomed audience members at the play’s premiere. The audience’s anticipation for the opening scene heightened as sound designer M. Anthony Reimer created sounds of eerie piano music and light heartbeats.

The effect of an outlined cross-shaped performance area was created by scenery Designer Laura Konlon using three white window backdrops. This made the effect of an enclosed room.

Lighting designer Ryan Breneisen added visual effects by dimming and brightening the lights that gave off a yellow or white color. The lighting design helped enhance the play by making the performers enclosed in a wall of lights.

With the sound of the heartbeat growing loud enough to shake the walls of the theater, the doors leading to the stage area swung open. Fog burst forth. Ten actors entered the stage and fell to the ground.

Frantically gathering around each other, the actors portrayed fear felt by the audience, and this was only the opening scene. As the actors each grabbed a bundle, revealing the name of a disciple on it, the characters each actor was playing became evident.

Worry filled the faces of the ten disciples as they realized that two disciples, Judas (implied character) and Thomas (Kristina Cottone) were missing.
Throughout the play the disciples continue to struggle between three choices.

Should they go out in the world and do their master’s bidding, stay in hiding or return to their old lives. Blaming each other for the fear that they feel, the disciples try to understand whether their master’s death is the end of their friendship.

The most interesting part of “Disciples” was seeing how Andras Visky’s personal story of living in a concentration camp played into the disciples hiding from arrest.

Although there was slight confusion because of costumes, the director’s notes in the program certainly helped the audience to understand what the performers were acting out.

The cast includes all B.F.A students from freshman to seniors. The cast included: Kristina Cottone (Thomas), Samantha Luhn (Phillip), Faith Streng (Alphaeus), and Amy Wilson (James) playing the role of male disciples.

The strongest acting came from freshman B.F.A. Michael Steen (John), senior Kristina Cottone and senior Faith Streng who all showed exceptional emotions and had voices that carried to each of the audience members ears.

The entire performance captivated the audiences attention. The play is definitely something that no one should miss out on. Final performances will take place each day until Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

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