AU Rude Mechanicals will perform “The Eight: Reindeer Monologues” by Jeff Goode on Dec. 5-7 at 8:30 p.m. in Kreeger Auditorium.
The play by Jeff Goode follows a sequence of monologues delivered by Santa’s reindeer, each one more solemn than the last as they deal with the repercussions of an act of sadism between Santa and the reindeer Vixen.
Caitlyn Rose Wan, a senior in the School of Public Affairs, is directing her first show with the Rude Mechanicals. She also performed in an earlier production of the play, but is finally taking the reigns for this production.
“The play is the different perspective of the reindeer on the team about this scandal that breaks out,” Wan said. “Santa Claus is the most powerful, respected, beloved man in the world in this play.”
Slowly throughout the play, various members of Santa’s team of reindeer present themselves on center stage and speak about their involvement in the scandal. Some are flamboyant and deranged while others are are slavishly sarcastic. However, all must come to terms with the fragility of perception of Santa in the wake the horrible scandal.
Wan took an upfront approach to the play, despite its dealings with issues of race, class and equality on the workplace to inspire discussion.
“The involvement of Christmas and Santa Claus is something that people will always ask about because people are not very comfortable with the idea of using this very happy holiday, seeing someone who’s a good person, someone that people like, and using that to talk about rape culture,” Wan said. “I think the context and setting that the author chose for this play is really crucial and a really good choice.”
The Rude Mechanicals usually reserve the holiday slot in their fall schedule for a play not involving Shakespeare.
“Santa is the stand-in for all the men who we look at and say, ‘He’s such a good person. He could never be a rapist,’” Wan said. “Unfortunately, that’s something that we do quite often.”
“The Eight: Reindeer Monoluges” will play at Kreeger Auditorium from Dec 5-7 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.
dkahen-kashi@theeagleonline.com
