GAC to present ‘Death of the Author’

As we ease into summer, more cultural opportunities vie for our attention. One upcoming event which should definitely not be missed, is the play, “Death of the Author” by Steven Drukman, currently in rehearsal. It will be performed at the Gunnison Arts Center (GAC) three nights only, May 21 through May 23, so get it on your calendar for next weekend now. This production is a collaboration with Firebird Theatre and the GAC directed by Tristan Buss who also performs in it along with three other cast members, Delaney Young, William Spicer and Autumn Coleman. They have been rehearsing for about six weeks now. 

Buss elaborates about the play’s theme and content: “I chose this play for myriad reasons. First, I laughed a lot while reading it. I also feel it touches on a lot of what we naturally worry about regarding ownership of ideas in today's post-AI landscape, despite having been written over ten years ago. Finally, I really appreciate this play's emphasis on the viewer understanding where each of these feuding characters are coming from.”

The action kicks of when a young professor accuses a graduating student of plagiarism in his essay on postmodernism, and a battle of academic shrewdness and underhanded behavior ensues. While much of the conflict is ethically very grey, Buss feels that the intent is to encourage an appreciation of other’s perspectives and the ramifications of academic careerism.

 “While I think, being a play set in higher education, in an unspecified American university, the presence of our local academia certainly lends itself to more natural interest than other communities, I find this type of story to be universally relevant. I think Author's thesis statement is ultimately about empathetic communication and what happens when we are unable to understand one another, which is increasingly important nowadays,” Buss says. 

 While Author certainly has its intense dramatic peaks, Drukman writes with a brilliantly wry and barbed style. The sarcastic humor displayed throughout this play is one of its greatest strengths. The sets have a minimalist vibe, with a smattering of platforms and the emphasis is  rather on the character’s conflicts and choices.

Asked about his casting and directing style,  Buss states “I would say my directing philosophy is pretty distinct. I view myself as an aggregator and audience surrogate rather than the ‘one with the vision’. When I direct a play, I ask my actors to become the de-facto subject experts in their characters. I certainly come in with a general idea for how the show should look and feel, but I try my best to keep myself open to unexpected discoveries made during the rehearsal process and suggestions from the actors.”

Looking toward the future, Buss says, “I've always been particularly intrigued by minimalist pieces and enduring classics like the works of Shakespeare and Ibsen. I would love to bring a play from the commedia dell'arte tradition to the Gunnison community at some point.”

He stresses that he would like to highlight and thank his incredible cast as well as the friends at the Gunnison Arts Center for helping to bring this experience to life.

Buss recommends an audience age restriction of 16 plus, due to the mild profanity in the script and a very short scene where a herbal substitute is used to suggest the smoking of marijuana in case someone in the audience has an extreme sensitivity to smoke. 

Doors open at 6.30 p.m., curtain at 7 p.m.  Tickets are available online at $20 general, $18 for members and on a first come basis at the door. www.gunnisonartscenter.org/theatre