The Year in Theater: BPT’s Latest Shows Brothers at Arms
BU playwright puts dysfunction on display in Comp
This year, Boston University’s actors, directors, and playwrights brought an exciting year of theater to campus. From the College of Fine Arts school of music’s Opera Institute and school of theatre production of The Magic Flute to the weeklong InCite Arts Festival produced by the College of Fine Arts, the performances showcased a wide array of BU talent. This week, BU Today is revisiting the year in theater at Boston University.
BPT’s Latest Shows Brothers at Arms
When the protagonist of the new play Comp suffers a major injury on the job, workers’ comp can alleviate his financial woes — but not his familial troubles. “He was only there because his brother could not make it to work,” says playwright John Shea. “So who’s to blame? Is there anyone to blame? Do things just happen?”
Fate and faith — as well as the family unit and how it functions during crisis — are the major themes of Comp, the newest play by Creative Writing Program alumnus Shea, now being performed at BU’s Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. He set the play in his hometown of Somerville, Mass., and writes what he knows. “Everything is based on things I’ve heard, people I’ve known,” Shea says, “so there is a lot of autobiography in this play and in pretty much everything I’ve ever written.”
Exploring his own roots in his writing helps Shea to reach others. “Everyone who is creating art wants to touch something,” he says. “And if it can open up a dialogue, a simple one, and if it can get people talking and looking at a different perspective, then I think that’s really all you want out of it.”
Comp played from November 1 to 18, 2007, at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave., Boston.
Robin Berghaus can be reached at berghaus@bu.edu.
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