Otero Players – Caged: A Presentation of One Acts

The Otero Players invite the community to their production of Caged: A Presentation of One Acts on April 11, 12, and 13 at 7 p.m. Under the direction of English and Theatre Faculty Heather Pidcock-Reed, the Otero Players will explore the circumstances surrounding traditionally marginalized communities in three one acts: Trifles by Susan Glaspell, The Cagebirds by David Campton, and The Insanity of Mary Girard by Lanie Robertson. The cast consists of a mixture of Otero College students, faculty, and alumni.

Originally performed in 1916, Susan Glaspell’s classic one-act Trifles explores the roles of women in a patriarchal society through the investigation of a woman accused of murdering her husband. The cast consists of Sophia Lague as Mrs. Hale; Carolina Estrada Cortez as Mrs. Peters; Jeffrey Reed as the County Attorney; Roman Tskhovrebov as Sheriff Peters; and Demian Ryder as Lewis Hale.

Written by David Campton in 1976, The Cagebirds follows the story of six people living in a locked room, each absorbed in their own petty interests and content to live in their cage as their sinister “Master” cares for them. Then, their Master throws a “Wild One” into the cage with them. The Wild One’s talk of breaking out and returning to the outside world begins to unsettle them…leading to a dramatic and shocking conclusion. The cast features Griffin Snyder as The Wild One; Phoebe Frausto as The Gossip; Makyla Whattler as The Gloom; Sophia Lague as The Twitting; Carolina Estrada Cortez as The Gazer; Demian Ryder as The Guzzle; Jeffrey Reed as The Thump; and Roman Tskovrebov as The Master.

First produced in 1976 and based on a true story, The Insanity of Mary Girard tells the story of Mary Girard – a Philadelphia woman committed to an asylum in 1790 after her husband declares her insane. This haunting play touches on the plight of women in a society where they have no rights, as well as the historical treatment of the mentally ill. The cast is comprised of Sophia Lague as Mary Girard; Roman Tskovrebov as Stephen Girard; Griffin Snyder as The Warder/Fury #1; Phoebe Frausto as Mrs. Lum/Fury #2; Carolina Estrada Cortez as Polly Kenton/Fury #3; Demian Ryder as Mr. Phillips/Fury #4; and Makyla Whattler as Mrs. Hatcher/Fury #5.

Performances will be held in the Ed Stafford Theatre at Otero College. Admission is free. Any questions regarding the production can be directed to Heather Pidcock-Reed via email at heather.pidcock-reed@otero.edu or by phone at 719-384-6861.