`MURDER & MAYHEM': U. THEATRE PRESENTS DRAMA IN OLD ST. VINCENT'S CHURCH

The setting for the upcoming Southeast Missouri State University Theater production "Murder in the Cathedral" is a church, and the department has decided to present it at Old St. Vincent's Church in Cape Girardeau.

The play opens Nov. 15 and will also be presented Nov. 16 and Nov. 20-23.

Written by T.S. Eliot, "Murder in the Cathedral" takes place in 1170 in England.

"The play is a re-enactment of the events leading up to Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket's death," said Robert Dillon, director of the play. "Becket is killed by four knights of King Henry of England.

"Becket and the king have political and religious disagreements," said Dillon. "The archbishop proceeds to excommunicate powerful bishops who are abusing their power."

Dillon said that Becket believed the church was answerable to church law only, but King Henry wanted Becket to answer to secular law.

"It's a poetic drama," said Dillon. "It's not just historic events, but timeless insights."

Dillon said performing in a church will be beautiful. "The first theaters in the Western world were churches," he said. "The Catholic Mass is a theatrical event."

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to show theater to people in the context of a church," said Dillon.

"It won't be difficult to direct," he said. "It's an actor's play that has very complex poetic diction. Also, the depth of ideas it contains is demanding for actors."

Dillon said that they will be staging the play on a mock-up set of St. Vincent's Church in Rose Theatre on campus, and will move to rehearse the play at St. Vincent's the day before opening night.

Alden Field will play the lead as Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury. "It's exciting and kind of scary, but I'm looking forward to it," Field said.

Field has been in various productions at the university. He played the father in "Baby with the Bathwater" and Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet" last spring. Field was also in the musical "The Fantasticks" and the female version of "The Odd Couple."

Field said that "Murder in the Cathedral" will be a challenge for him. "It's a verse drama," he said, "like a living poem."

He said he has never played a real person. "I'm excited about the historical background, but I feel pressured to do justice to this person," Field said.

Field is the son of John and Kay Field of Sikeston.

Kiersten Moratzka, Leslie Stevens, Abbie Crites, Kara Cracraft, Debra Speakman and LaTanya Thomas are the chorus of women of Canterbury; Jim Storck, Eric Schalk and Matt Garner are the priests; Marty Strohmeyer, Pat Rebman, Scott Hamann and Edjron Pearson double as the four knights and tempters; Jeff Militti is the messenger; and Cory Hoehn and George Kraleman are Becket's attendants.

Admission prices are $5 for non-students; $3 for Southeast students, staff, faculty and senior citizens; and $2 for children under 12.