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KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 19, 2021

New take on 15th century morality play, 鈥淓verybody鈥� asks what happens when Death shows up unexpectedly

The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies (TPS) asks what might happen when Death shows up unexpectedly and tells Everybody his time is up. 鈥淓verybody,鈥� running October 26-31, is Branden-Jacob Jenkins鈥� audacious riff on the 15th century morality play, 鈥淓veryman.鈥� Everyman has been called to give an account of his life, but he can鈥檛 give an account, and he can鈥檛 take his worldly goods with him. 鈥淓verybody鈥� is a mirror image of 鈥淓veryman,鈥� but set in today鈥檚 modern world. 

TPS professor and director Amanda Washington explains, 鈥淎 morality play happened in the medieval times. It was a play that had a moral easy enough for the church congregation to understand: if you are a good person, when you die, you get into heaven.鈥� Actor Rich Gibson says that the play 鈥渁sks questions of the audience as to what is truly important in life for them. This play raises death鈥檚 conscience in the audience鈥檚 mind.鈥�

However, audience members looking for the Grim Reaper may not recognize Death in "Everybody," nor Evil, or Love, based upon the interesting costume designs by Summer Jack. 

The dramatic set, conceived by TPS professor and resident designer , looks very much like Stonehenge, and it鈥檚 intentional. Washington says the set is 鈥渟ymbolic of structures that are put up in our lives, monuments that matter the most to us. But when it comes time for us to die, we can鈥檛 take those things with us; we can only take love with us.鈥�

A finalist for the 2018 Pulitzer Prize, the play is rich in quality, and 鈥渨hile thought-provoking, is also filled with many funny moments as the character Everybody tries to recruit people to go with him and Death to answer to God as to why they have lived their life the way they have,鈥� adds Gibson. 

Actor Jacob Craig hopes that everyone in the audience will take something away from the play. 鈥淲e all have our time here on this earth, and then we don鈥檛, so it鈥檚 important to be conscious of the way you interact with people.鈥� 

Actor Zach Tellez says that audience members will enjoy the performance because 鈥渋t is absolutely ridiculous and the best of times. It does make you think, but it gives you the space to breathe and laugh through it.鈥� 

The cast of nine includes five characters who aren鈥檛 sure which role they will be playing; each night, the cast selection is done by lottery on stage, in front of a live audience. The cast won鈥檛 know who is playing which support roles (the 鈥淪omebodies鈥�) until they are on stage. Washington gave each student a heads-up on which night they were playing the lead, to allow family members and friends to come that evening. However, it鈥檚 a wild card for all roles on closing night. Each actor must know the other鈥檚 lines.

Gibson has done the math; he says that 鈥渢he audience will see one of 120 different possibilities of casting. Because of this format, each Somebody must memorize 85% of the of the entire script to be prepared to play any role. It is quite a challenge!鈥� 

This production may be a challenge for the actors, but audiences will enjoy it, even as it reminds them 鈥渢o put into focus what we hold near and dear,鈥� notes Washington. It鈥檚 not all reflective and pensive, though. She was surprised by 鈥渉ow funny it is when it鈥檚 actually being performed. On paper it鈥檚 very dramatic, but it鈥檚 actually pretty hysterical.鈥� 

Tickets for 鈥淓verybody鈥� are $12-$20. To buy tickets, please visit kennesaw.edu/arts

--Kathie Beckett