Put your paws together for Slyvia, coming to the Hewes Studio Theater
Kiersten Fuhr - Photo and Graphics Manager
Monmouth College theatre department's first show of the semester, Sylvia, opens this weekend in the Hewes Studio Theater. Guest Director Lisa Wipperling said, “I hope you find the heart in this production as much as our wonderful team of actors and designers has in the process. Because at its core, it's all about love.”
The show follows the story of Greg, Kate, and their lovable dog Sylvia as they navigate their new reality.
“So often, pet owners wish we could really know what our pets are thinking, but often we think we really do know based on their body language and mannerisms,” said Wipperling. “Here's an opportunity to get inside the head of a dog and see what they might actually think and say in any given moment.”
In 2014, Wipperling played Kate at Black Hills Playhouse. “Directing Sylvia is a full circle moment for me,” Wipperling said. “When given an opportunity to direct this year for Monmouth College, this show quickly floated to the top because of its playful qualities and relatable story.”
Greg and Kate, played by junior Eric Pio and sophomore Abby Zayas, have moved to Manhattan after living in the suburbs raising their children. After Greg brings home Sylvia, played by junior Brontë de Zwart, tensions rise between the married couple. Kate doesn’t want a dog in the city, but Greg wants to keep Sylvia. The couple is forced to confront the unknowns of middle age and the next chapter of their relationship.
About Sylvia, Wipperling said, “This story, at its core, is the story of a human's best friend either being his partner or his dog and the struggle between those two very crucial relationships in his life. It takes serious subjects and allows humor to seep through scene after scene.”
Slyvia opens Friday, February 21 at 7:30 pm with additional shows Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 23 at 2 pm. Tickets are available by scanning the QR code on posters posted around campus or by going to purplepass.com/mcsylvia.