Friel's 'Translations' powerful, bittersweet

Bittersweet Irish music filled the University Theatre Friday, setting the tone for Brian Friel's "Translations." The stage was transformed into a rustic farmhouse and the student actors were transformed into hearty townspeople, full of life, joy and pain. The play simultaneously explored how love transcends language, and how suppressing a language can suppress a people.\nThe young people in the small community of Baile Beag, County Donegal are taught by the lovably intellectual Hugh, senior George Bookwalter, at the home of the perpetually daydreaming Jimmy Jack, portrayed by senior Ray Tice. The students are lively and loud, eager to learn and socialize. Their revelry is pleasantly interrupted by the appearance of their friend Owen, graduate student Ira Amyx, who has been away for six years. He has succeeded in business in Dublin and is now aiding the British army in making a map of Ireland.\nIn charge of the cartographical mission is the brisk and presumptuous Lancey, portrayed by senior and IDS columnist Duncan Teater. Owen translates Lancey's English message into Gaelic for the townspeople; he tells them of the map and hints at military occupation. Lancey's message is well-received by all except Manus, portrayed by graduate student Chris Nelson, who is wary of the British.\nLancey's assistant, Yolland, senior Kurt Schlachter, is eager to learn more about the Gaelic language and the people of Baile Beag. His job is to translate the Gaelic names for the locations on the map into English names. While doing so, he falls in love with the Gaelic language, the green countryside and a fiery Irish student, Maire, played by junior Jessica Cannon. Maire has talked with Manus of marriage, but is disappointed by his lack of ambition and is considering a new life in America. She wants to learn English, as do some of the other students.\nAs the plot progresses with Maire and Yolland falling in love, Manus' departure and Lancey becoming outraged at Yolland's disappearance, there is a foreshadowing of tumult in Ireland's near future. As the Gaelic language dies, so will the peace in the land and its independence. The mysterious, beautiful Gaelic names on the Irish map are Anglicized, and the culture will eventually be overtaken as well. The vivacious Bridget, senior Lauren Graf, is paranoid about a "sweet smell," an eerie premonition of the Great Irish Potato Famine that ravaged the country in 1845, according to the program.\nScenic designer and graduate student Namok Bae's simplistic set was a gorgeous backdrop for the actors, giving a comfortable, familiar and rustic feel to the play. Costume designer and graduate student Amanda Bailey's outfits, from traditional peasant garb to Lancey and Yolland's impressive English uniforms were beautiful and appropriate, never upstaging the actors. Becky Hardy, lighting and sound designer, created an unforgettable final scene, with the red glow of a fire blazing through the barn doors, creating a forlorn silhouette of Maire.\nThe actors, under the skilled directing of associate professor Bruce Burgun, did a wonderful job with a demanding script. Their Gaelic and English accents were authentic and natural, although the Gaelic was at times difficult to understand. Their reactions were honest and open, and their onstage camaraderie made the audience feel as if they were looking in on a gathering of old, familiar friends. Their interpretation of the piece was powerful, and "Translations" overall was a stunning production.