Theater students direct, perform in “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” a play about overcoming imprisonment

In an undisclosed location, trapped and concealed from the wonders of civilization, three men of Irish, American and English descent find themselves perturbed and perplexed as they attempt to find answers and keep sane over their current state of existence.

These men are the protagonists of Frank McGuiness’ play “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me,” a production of which will take center stage at the Freud Playhouse from Thursday to Saturday.

Angela Scott, the director of the play and a graduate student in directing, said she has always been interested in Irish theater, even more so after she was introduced to McGuinness’ body of work.

“This play is being made nine years after it originally premiered, and is still relevant because it brings the questions that need to be examined on (the) Middle East,” Scott said.

The play traces the story of the three protagonists, who are held hostage by Arabs in Lebanon. Those three men from different backgrounds come together in hopes of resolving their imprisonment and attempt to maintain sanity amongst themselves.

The play not only deals with the sensitivity of how the Middle East is portrayed in the media, but it also focuses on depicting how innocent people grapple with adversity in a muddled world. The whole ensemble cast consists of only six people.

Third-year theater student Ian McQuown portrays the Irishman Edward. He explained that this role was complex because the actors were stuck in an empty room representing a prison for the duration of the play.

“It was very challenging but fun, because I have never been in a show with only three characters stuck in a room, chained as (hostages),” said third-year theater student David Tucker, who plays the American character Adam.

Tucker said that getting into the mind-set of a prisoner was quite challenging because, though the play delivers an important thematic message, it is laced with humor.

Both actors said they were able to share Scott’s vision throughout the making of the play because of the details she was able to provide from her past experiences.

“She knows the minute details that even I couldn’t grasp because of the time she has spent in Ireland,” McQuown said.

Though the play deals with a serious, sensitive issue of wronged imprisonment and the portrayal of Middle East, McQuown said its humor is meant to euphemize the absurdity of the situation the lead actors are stuck in.

“I am excited to open the show and see how people think of it in terms of comedy, because comedy is always difficult to get right,” McQuown said.

McQuown worked to get one detail right; he has been growing the beard for his role as a prisoner since Nov. 1. After the play closes on Saturday, he said he can’t wait to finally shave it off. But even with his beard gone, his experience playing this role is likely to stay with him.