CU’s newest performance entertains audience
The tag line for the CU Theatre and Dance program’s most recent performance “Cloud Nine” is “a zany parade of heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexuals,” which is a great explanation of what the audience can expect.
“Cloud Nine” is a twisted portrait of people of various sexualities portrayed at different points in history. Written by Caryl Churchill in 1978, the play was created during a Joint Stock Theatre Company workshop that was based on the theme of sexual politics. The performance examines the way sexuality impacts each of its characters and their relationships. There is plenty of humor, crazy costumes and cross dressing all wrapped up in disruptive behavior and a well-written story.
“It is definitely appealing to college kids,” said Chris Cordell, a senior math major. “It may be borderline inappropriate at times, but that makes it interesting.”
The first act focuses on a British family settling in Africa in the late 1800s. A couple extra characters are involved with the family, including a slave taken from his native tribe and made into a Jesus-touting white servant, a trouble-making closeted homosexual explorer and a widow who the head of the household is very fond of.
The second act skips a hundred years forward in time to England in the 1970s. The characters appear to have changed at first, but we soon learn of links between the modern and older cast. The story mostly focuses on the sexualities of a confused wife, her homosexual brother and their mother, and it all plays out together nicely. The contrast between the ways sexuality is presented in the span of many years is extremely well depicted.
All of the actors did a terrific job playing all of their characters both in the first and second acts. The links between the characters are extremely intriguing; the problems some of the characters have in act two connect back to those who were muffled in act one due to society’s standards during the older time period.
Another aspect of the play that deserves mentioning is the extraordinary use of costumes and makeup. The audience was left trying to figure out which actors were who from act to act. Some men were women, some women were boys and some men were little girls.
“It is super sexual,” said Laura Mcgowan, a sophomore sociology major. “I am in a bunch of sex and gender classes, so I love stuff like this.”
This show offers something for everyone. There is comedy as well as an extremely interesting and innovative storyline behind it. Above all, the actors did a terrific job.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Emma Dessau at emma.dessau@colorado.edu.
