The cast reads through the script, character personalities and relationships are created, blocking begins, lines are memorized, technical elements are added, a final dress rehearsal takes place, then it’s opening night.
The play “The Good Fight” was written for the Great Plains theatre conference by Anne Bertram in 2008. Director Jennifer Ettinger said she was looking for a play that was written by a woman and that catered to the demographic of students auditioning for the play.
“A lot of our men graduated, and I knew not as many men were going to be auditioning,” Ettinger said. “So I tried to find a play that had a ton of roles for women.”
“The Good Fight” is based on the true story of the Women’s Social and Political Union and its members who fought for women’s right to vote. The founder of the union was Emmeline Pankhurst. Pankhurst is played by senior Lizzy Purdy.
“I did a lot of research into the movement, and I did a lot of research specifically on Emmeline Pankhurst,” Purdy said.
A lot of lines in the play are real things that were said by real people at that time in history.
“I want to do justice to this real person who lived a very intricate and exciting life,” Purdy said.
Senior Ace Walther plays three roles in the play. Two on stage, and one behind the scenes. Walther said it was interesting to research the nobles and working class of England in the 1900s.
“I’ve learned a lot more about the social and economic state of Britain during this time,” Walther said.
Jiu-jitsu is a major part of this production. The cast is learning jiu-jitsu with the help of jiu-jitsu instructor Dara Rosenberg.
“They’re learning some real jiu-jitsu moves, and then they’re also learning some moves that kind of just look cool on stage,” Ettinger said.
In previous years, the play has almost always been comedies, which is where this play differs from the rest.
“This is, honestly, since I got here, the first drama that I’ve directed,” Ettinger said. “This one is much more serious than anything we’ve ever attempted before.”
