CES at FSU Hosts the Trick of the Light Theatre’s Production of “The Griegol”

The Cultural Events Series at Frostburg State University will present “The Griegol” by New Zealand’s Trick of the Light Theatre on Wednesday, March 29, and Thursday, March 30, both performances at 7:30 p.m. in the F. Perry Smith Studio Theatre of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center.

“The Griegol,” a mythic tale without words about death, love, grief and monsters, tells the story of a child who, following her grandmother’s death, suspects she is being pursued by the shape-shifting smoke demon from the old woman’s stories. The performance draws on techniques of early cinema, conjuring magic and laughter out of silhouettes, puppetry, live music and animation. The New Zealand publication Theatreview praised its “dynamism, cleverness and beauty,” declaring it to be “a touching, delightful and exciting theatrical experience.”

Immediately following the performances, as part of the Offstage Series With WFWM, WFWM’s station director, Chuck Dicken, will join the artists for a conversation with the audience. Gain a greater understanding of how the company communicates without words, and discuss universal themes of grief, loss, memory and – ultimately – connection.

Based in New Zealand, Trick of the Light was founded by Hannah Smith and Ralph McCubbin Howell. With “The Griegol,” they push the boundaries for a company already renowned for its inventive staging. “Essentially we’ve built the world’s most absurdly high-tech overhead projector,” says Howell. “It combines lo-fi shadow puppets, hand cranks and lightboxes with live video streams and projection. We’ve shifted things that usually take place out of sight onstage to form part of the action, so that audiences get to see both the visual effects and the ways in which they’ve been created.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for FSU faculty/staff and military, $15 for youth under 18 and free for FSU students. This performance is recommended for children ages 7 and older.

For more information, visit the CES webpage at ces.frostburg.edu or contact the University box office at 1-866-849-9237 or 301-687-3137. The box office, in the FSU Lane University Center, is open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This engagement of Trick of the Light is made possible in part through the Performing Arts Global Exchange program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts with assistance from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Embassy of Australia in Washington, D.C. CES is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), the Allegany Arts Council and the City of Frostburg.

FSU is following CDC guidance based on current area conditions. For current health and safety guidelines, visit www.frostburg.edu/COVID19.