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Printer-Friendly ModeStudent production reveals adult side of Shel Silverstein
February 13, 2006 —
Shel Silverstein is best known for bringing poetry to children in books like Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light on in the Attic, but Ashley Pfenninger is about to show SVSU a whole new side of Silverstein. The senior is producing An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein, written by Shel himself, and as Pfenninger warns, this is no kid's show.
It's "adults only," as this show tackles some grown-up issues like how to pick up women at bus stops and getting prostitutes to fight over you. There is also a scene in which the dialogue consists only of euphemisms for genitalia. It's all in fun, though, says Pfenninger, who wants to remind everyone not to "feel guilty for laughing" and that the show is just a chance to "laugh things off."
The show is made up of 10 outrageous vignettes that are all approximately 10 minutes long. Each scene has a different topic, but each is steeped in absurdity. The production will run about two hours with a 15-minute intermission.
The play is relatively new, debuting less than a decade ago, but this was not the beloved writer's only foray into adult content. Silverstein's work was featured in Playboy and he was often accused of writing obscene lyrics and poetry. He was a talented author and musician who received little publicity. Silverstein died of a heart attack in 1999.
This show just might be history in the making, as it is the first SVSU production to feature not one but two professors from the school itself. Janet Rubin and Rick Roberts were both cast in the play and will portray a not-so-happily married couple.
Pfenninger says that aspect of the play is special.
"We've never seen them act before," she says. "I mean, they're our theater teachers, we knew they could, but we never got to see it."
Pfenninger is producing and directing the show to fulfill part of her degree requirements for her major in theater. She has done everything for the show from writing its proposal to managing the budget, and she says it has been hard work. But, she says, she wanted a chance to "prove that 22 year olds can do something important."
She chose the show specifically for college students because she felt they could relate to some of the subject matter and also because it makes for a good excuse to laugh. It pokes fun at all the absurd situations we get into throughout life.
The show will take place on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Curtiss 180. There is no admission fee, but donations are welcome. Pfenninger says those 16 and over are welcome to attend.