It might not be every day that one straps a bomb to his chest in the name of winning back his ex-wife, but this won’t stop the audience relating to Exploding Love, said LCC student Joseph Tanner Paul.
“People always do crazy things for love,” Paul said.
Joseph Coyne’s 1995 play shows the events that unfold after Skeeter threatens to blow up city hall to preempt his ex-wife’s impending nuptials. In the process, Skeeter, played by Paul, accidentally takes two men hostage in a bathroom, including Rory, the groom-to-be.
“My character, Skeeter, is madly in love with his ex-wife and he wants nothing more than to not give her up,” Paul said.
Megan Simon plays Winona, Skeeter’s ex-wife and Rory’s bride-to-be.
“She’s one of those people who lives day by day,” Simon said of her character.
Simon also drew similarities between Skeeter and Winona’s fiancé, Rory.
“They are both the same in a way. She’s trying to find the same thing she had with Skeeter with someone else,” Simon said.
Dawson Shadd, who plays Rory, describes him as “a guy who’s very comfortable with the life he’s living.”
“It really is like a sitcom, people in a real situation making a comedy of it,” said Kenny Stuck, who plays the detective.
While the emphasis of the play is on the potentially explosive love triangle between Winona, Skeeter and Rory, Simon and Paul explain that it is truly an ensemble play. Paul said that one scene requires the entire cast to be on stage.
“It’s so much fun. Everyone’s in character and having a good time,” Simon said of the scene. “We have a really good dynamic … . You’re working off each other’s energy.”
Assistant Director and Stage Manager Tim O’Donnell said the play has come together well.
“All of our actors are really professional and they work their butts off to get it done,” he said.
The play itself is fairly short; something O’Donnell said is a good thing.
“It has a very different energy to it that’s fun and refreshing,” he said. “You never have the chance to lose the energy of the show.”
While the characters may seem a little over the top, Paul said the audience might see a little bit of themselves in the roles on stage.
“Everyone can relate to love (and) relate to the crazy things people do for love,” he said.
When:
Jan 26-28 at 7:30 p.m.
Feb 2, 3-4, 9-11 at 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 at 2 p.m.
Where:
Blue Door Theatre
Cost:
$8 for students, staff and seniors
$10 for general admission
