University of the Fraser Valley’s School of Creative Arts (SOCA) presents its second production of the season, Rhinoceros, starting on Thursday, March 14.
The play, directed by assistant professor Parjad Sharifi, runs until March 23 in the performance studio in building D at the Abbotsford UFV campus. It is presented by the SOCA acting and production classes.
Rhinoceros is a humorous and absurdist masterwork by Eugène Ionesco, written in 1959.
The play comments on the dangers of conformity and acts as a metaphor to depict the rise of fascism and totalitarian ideologies.
Rhinoceros challenges audiences to ask critical existential questions about human will and responsibility in today’s global crisis.
Set in a small French town, the play centers around the character Berenger, an everyman figure who is initially presented as a slacker and outsider.
As the play progresses, the town is gradually taken over by rhinoceroses. Berenger finds himself increasingly isolated and powerless as he watches his friends and fellow citizens succumb to a bizarre transformation.
The student cast features Kyle Pagulyan, Owen Occleshaw, Jessica Blanchard, Marc Cretien, Chloe Loewen, Alvin Swarup, Liam Troan, Harshit Sharma, Grae Markiw, Abbye Mozsar, Eden Verster, Braydan Dades, Abdullah Hamid, and Beatrice Frenette.
Students are also mentored by Jared Raschk, UFV production class instructor and technical coordinator; wardrobe manager Heather Robertson; and production manager Giuseppe Condello.
Showtime is 7 p.m. on March 14, 15, 21 and 22, with matinees at 2 p.m. on March 16 and 23.
Tickets are $5 for student and $10 for the public. Seat reservations are available at eventbrite.ca.
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