Caine College Theater Department presents “We Are Pussy Riot, or Everything is PR”

The Caine College Department of Theater Arts performed “We Are Pussy Riot, or Everything is PR” Sept. 25-30.

“We Are Pussy Riot” is a play based on the real Russian feminist group, Pussy Riot, who performed a 48 second song in a Moscow church on Feb. 21, 2012. Three of the women in this group were subsequently arrested, even though peaceful protest is protected under Russian law.

The play follows the women’s experience on trial as well as the experience of others who were affected by this unlawful arrest.

Amanda Dawson, director of “We Are Pussy Riot, or Everything is PR” at USU, said the choice to produce this play was unanimous amongst the faculty.

“This is the most relevant play that we’re talking about,” Dawson said. “But it’s also fun. You’re going to be shocked and you’re going to laugh.”

The play jumps between perspectives throughout the show to portray the 48 second demonstration, the trial of the women and how this event was perceived around the world. These shifts add to the dynamic and humorous elements of the show.

Black Box Theater sign located outside the Black Box Theater in the USU Fine Arts Center.

“I really liked the piece because it’s sort of chaotic,” Dawson said. “We can put a lot of joy into social change and this call for change in general.”

The assistant director of the show, Rachel Tillotson, agreed with Dawson’s analysis.

“I call it a punch in the face for the audience,” Tillotson said. “It’s critical of religion, it’s critical of the government, but for purposes of social justice.”

Brynn Francis, a senior in the BFA acting program, played one of the three main women, Katya. She said this show helped her grow as an actor because of its basis on current events.

“We’re playing real life people,” Francis said. “A lot of the dialogue and lines in the script are taken directly from what these people said in real life.”

Timo Rasmussen, acting BFA senior, said the play holds importance and relevance.

“It asks everybody to take a hard look at what’s considered true,” Rasmussen said. “Is there more to the story that’s just not being told because somebody had control of the media?”

Rasmussen played Sergei, a fictionalized character based on people who were arrested for protesting Pussy Riot’s arrest.

“They were guilty from the beginning and would be found guilty,” Rasmussen said. “They don’t really get a fair trial.”

According to Rasmussen, playing Sergei required him to channel empathy toward someone with a completely different background than him.

“You have to translate that to the audience in a way that really resonates with them,” Rasmussen said.

Francis said her favorite part of playing Katya was figuring out how to portray the characters’ intentions.

“I loved the discovery of the imperfectness of my character,” Francis said. “I think that’s when things change and when it brings the story to life in a more cohesive way.”

Tillotson said it was interesting to see how people’s brains work and how they interpret their character.

This was Tillotson’s first time directing something like “We Are Pussy Riot,” and she said the character interpretations were unique.

“How can we ask questions of these characters and find the answers through their performance to tell a complete story?” Dawson said.

Dawson said the actors, designers, and production crew all came together to put on a successful show.

Dawson also said she enjoyed directing the show because of how it posed a new challenge to her.

“At the core of it all is telling a story successfully so audiences will take something away from it,” Dawson said.

The next play the Caine College Theater Department is putting on is “Waiting for Lefty,” which will be Oct. 13-14, and 26-28.

“I think when it all comes down to it, all theater is about relationships,” Rasmussen said. “And just focusing on hopefully allowing people to think about how they can be better people to each other.”