If you go
› What: UTC Theatre Company’s “Luna Gale.”› When: 7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Feb. 21-24; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25.› Where: UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.› Admission: $12 adults, $10 students (with ID) and seniors.› Phone: 423-425-4269.› Website: www.utc.edu/finearts.› Note: Play contains adult content and language.
More Info
UTC Theatre Company’s “Luna Gale” production features:* Cast: Sarah Kay, Mary Ripley, Mark Elich, Crissy Varnell, LeighAna Sharkey, Nick Sterling, Octavius Lanier* Director: Gaye Jeffers* Technical direction: John R. Burgess* Scene designer: Garrett Henson* Lighting designer: John R Burgess* Costume designer: Emily Greene* Stage manager: Sami Burns
Who knows what's best for a baby: parents, religion, the system?
UTC Theatre Company's production of "Luna Gale" explores this question and others in a six-performance run next week that kicks off the spring semester of the 2016-17 season.
This edgy and compelling play from Rebecca Gilman tells the story of Caroline, a hard-pressed social worker in Iowa, who is given the task of supervising a case in which a 6-month-old baby has been hospitalized. The baby's name gives the play its title. Parents Karlie and Peter are teenage meth addicts who are struggling to raise their child.
It seems apparent that the care of Luna Gale should be given to Karlie's mother, Cindy, an evangelical Christian, who is eager to love and provide for her grandchild. But doubts begin to arise when Cindy requests permanent adoption against the wishes of Peter and Karlie.
Caroline is forced to navigate this moral conundrum. Is it better for the child to be reared by a zealous grandmother or to be reunited with her rehabilitated parents?
Director Gaye Jeffers says she keeps "going back to the idea of brokenness and how beautifully Rebecca Gilman questions how we view each other. In some ways 'Luna Gale' is a modern morality play, but the lines between good and evil have been erased. The answer is not as simple as the question.
"The play explores drug addiction, the foster care system, child abuse and the role of faith in our country. Everyone in the play is struggling to do what they think is best for [the baby]. Rebecca Gilman reminds us that the road to change often involves releasing the truth, even if it's ugly, violent, regretful and hard to see."
The seven-member cast features Sarah Kay, Mary Ripley, Mark Elich, Crissy Varnell, LeighAna Sharkey, Nick Sterling and Octavius Lanier.
Audience members should be aware that the play contains adult language and content.