Miss Julie

Set  in northern Sweden during 1891, “Miss Julie” shows the captivity of a young woman who has different ideals than society. However, an ambitious laborer sharing the same house with Miss Julie has secret desires for the woman who acts socially wrong.

This lover’s quarrel leads to controversy that could be decided by escaping to a new life elsewhere or suicide, but the choice is up to Jean, played by Ryan Arab, junior of Deer Park, New York, and Miss Julie, played by Shanie Hollenbeck, senior of Estelline, South Dakota.

“It is a play about circumstances and whether society influences the decisions we make” Hollenbeck said, “But I hope the audience has a lovely time watching it; that they laugh and enjoy it.”

Adding to the drama between Jean and Julie is Christine, played by Courtney Smith, senior of Hampton. Christine seems content with her role as a maid who works alongside Jean in the house. However, Christine is attracted to Jean, but is forced to deal with the lover’s quarrel along with her own.

The play provides social commentary as gender roles are emphasized and society has a grip on the characters’ decisions. The taboo subjects such as adultery, women’s rights and suicide are brought to the table in Miss Julie. Though they are not as scandalous today when the play  first premiered in the 1890s it was seen as too improper to be presented.

Compared to the theatre department’s musical comedy “Evil Dead the musical” in October, “Miss Julie” offers a more serious experience for viewers.

The play was put together and rehearsed by the cast during the last three weeks and features four students acting in their first college play including Rachel Cannon, freshman of Anchorage, Alaska, Cheyenne Bacon, freshman of Oshkosh, Coleton Bevins, freshman of Gering, and Arab.

“For a November show, it’s the shortest time period of the fall shows that we have to prepare and get memorized” Courtney Smith, senior of Hampton, said.

“Miss Julie” premieres 7:30 p.m., tonight, and will continued with shows  ending on Sunday in the black box theatre at Memorial Hall.