A Woman
Chris Cragin-Day
Scenes 3-4
A Woman was developed from the prompt to study the world of immersive theater. I began to explore the abstract world of immersive performance by reading through Creating Worlds: How to Make Immersive Theater by Jason Warren.
After some study, I was drawn to A Woman, a play by Chris Cragin-Day. The resulting piece, inspired by the lessons and conversations of the play, took place at An Episcopal church, and the churches office space. The audience followed the actors through the Sanctuary, into a chapel, then across the street into the church offices.
The audience was invited to attend a class that was being taught at the fictional “St. Pauls Church of the Highlands”, and arrived to a Sunday service of said church. They then witnessed a sermon from the Pastor, a lesson in grammar from the Professor, and stumbled into a private debate between the pair.
The “floating cast” welcoming the audience into the church
The cast aiding the immersive aspects by having unscripted conversations
The audience moving into the sanctuary, greeted by contemporary Christian music
Devised character “Kharis Anne” welcoming the audience to the scene
“That’s the forest. Everything else is the trees.”
“Maybe its the divine, yearning to be human.”
The audience following the cast to the church offices
Entering the new location
“You think I’m trying to, what, sabotage this church?”
“All he did was write a thesis, Cliff. All his thesis said was “that’s not true.””
“WWJD? I don’t know, but i think he’d definitely be overturning some church tables.”
The “floating cast” keeping up the illusion of a functioning church office.
“My daughter wants to be the first woman president.”
“Complimentarianism v.s Egalitarianism.”
“… society needs women to be involved in law making and church leading. Because of the differences.”
“Well it hurts your credibility with me.”
“Dates. Time. Places. Just so you know it wasn’t hyperbole.”