For those of you interested in seeing something a lot less mainstream than the tried-and-true "Guys and Dolls," there's "Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk." Don't worry. You don't have to be able to say it in order to go see it.
The title is Swedish for "the mysterious journey" and the play promises to provide just such a journey for the audience as they follow main character Phillip (played by Brandon Leyton) through an inner struggle.
"Resa" is "basically, a coming of age story that follows a young artist's descent into madness and sexual perversion," said the play's producer, theatre arts senior Ashley Gose.
Gose described the play as "both comical and heart-wrenching."
"Here you will see death juxtaposed with dancing and laughter intertwined with lunacy," she said.
The play will be performed by MFA, BFA and BA students in the UA School of Theatre Arts and will be directed by Gose. "Resa," written by the 19th century playwright Lars Mattsun, has been controversial due to its strong language and sexuality.
"The sexuality in this play has been a point of controversy ever since its first English production five years ago," Gose said. "The Mattsun Society, an organization founded in 1974 to 'put Lars Mattsun on every stage in America,' was outraged by the overtly sexual interpretation taken by original director Todd Merrill."
Gose and crew had to decide if they wanted to present the sexualized version of the play. "After much consideration," Gose said, "we decided that the playwright did, in fact, mean for the sexuality to be exploited in his play."
Getting the cast comfortable with the sexuality and immodesty required by their decision took extra effort. "One of the scenes in the play is set inside an actual brothel where Phillip is seduced. There are scantily-clad women constantly taunting Phillip," Gose said.
"This sort of sexual and sensual comfort comes only after hours of rehearsals spent dancing, hugging and just being close to one another," Gose said. "We found that this was the best way to build up our vulnerability and confidence among the actors, and, if I may say so, it has come to great fruition in this production."
Due to the Mattsun Society's displeasure with the overtly sexualized productions of "Resa," future productions may be censured. This means that the opportunity to see the play as many feel it is meant to be performed may be limited. The Mattsun Society "could potentially stop any future staging of the production," Gose said, "or at least any staging that illuminates the play's inherent sexuality in the way this one does. This may be Arizona playgoers' only opportunity to fully experience the glory that is Lars Mattsun."
So, don't miss out on this golden opportunity to see a play that is at once controversial, beautiful, tortured and possibly endangered. "I guarantee that audiences will enjoy a theatrical experience unlike any they have ever had," Gose said.
"Resa Fantastiskt Mystisk" will be performed, translated into English, beginning today and running through Nov. 23. Performances will run at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased for $3.50 from the UA Fine Arts Box Office by calling 621-1162, or online at www.uatheatre.org.