ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Johnny Rivera plays the strong man in North Shore Community College’s production of “Elephant’s Graveyard” to be performed at the Lynn Arts Black Box Theater.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — When a circus comes to a Tennessee town in 1916, tragedy strikes when an elephant tramples a trainer.
The tale, based on true events, was told in “Elephant’s Graveyard,” by George Brant.
The show of the same name by the Performing Arts Council (PAC) with North Shore Community College, opens tonight at 7 p.m. at Lynn Arts Black Box Theatre.
Matthew Woods, the play’s director, said the show is comprised of North Shore students, alumni and faculty, and features an ensemble cast. He said the theme of the production is justice and what will happen to the elephant following the trainer’s death.
“This is a play that allowed students to explore historic events in a relevant context today,” Woods said. “It’s about American interest in spectacle and violence and the emergence of those.”
Woods said the play is just over an hour, with no intermission, and will be performed in front of just 60 people. He said the play also challenged performers since it is in monologue form. The actors don’t talk to each other, but speak directly to the audience. The elephant incident is not shown, but it’s talked about by different characters, who share their perspective.
Woods said the subject matter is sensitive and details discussed are graphic, so parental discretion should be advised.
Dan Atchason, a North Shore engineering student and Salem resident, plays the ringmaster. His major concern is making a return on his investment. As he is mostly concerned with making sure the circus is making money, Atchason said his role thinks more about money rather than feelings.
He said the format is different than what PAC has done with its previous productions. This is his third play with the college. He has a degree in communications and film, but returned to school for engineering.
“It’s more personal and intimate with the audience,” he said. “It’s much more interesting. The focal point is really on you.”
Johnny Rivera, a Beverly resident, is in his first semester at North Shore. The native New Yorker left the Marines in 2014 and wants to study physical therapy. Elephant’s Graveyard is his first production and he saw it as a way to meet people. He plays the strong man in the circus.
Rivera said the character has tension with the elephant because the animal is stronger than him. He said the production is helping him overcome his nerves with performing. He has been putting in prep work, other than just practicing lines.
“I’ve been working out really hard to get in the best shape I can,” he said.
Cari Keebaugh, of Salem, is an English professor at North Shore. She plays the ballet girl, a showgirl. Historically, she said ballet girls were untrained and often ran cooch tents, or prostitute tents, and burlesque shows outside the circus.
“A woman’s reputation was tarnished by being associated with the circus,” she said.
The show is her fourth with the school and typically performs every semester with the PAC. She said it is important to have a theatre program on campus specifically for students and she wanted to help out.
There will be four showings over the weekend. On Saturday, there will be performances at 3 and 7 p.m. Another on Sunday, at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7 and $5 for students and seniors.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.
