“The Great Divorce,” a play adapted from the C.S. Lewis novel, will show at 8 p.m. on April 11–12 in Culbertson Auditorium on the campus of Sterling College. The show will feature the final work of two seniors, director Kyle Davis of Hoisington, and costumes designer Megan Reed of Mulvane. The box office opens on show nights at 7 p.m. and doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.
“The Great Divorce,” by C.S. Lewis, is an allegorical story in which the narrator, Lewis, finds himself in the “grey town,” which can be hell or purgatory depending on how long one stays. Lewis eventually finds a bus that takes him to heaven. Along the way, he meets up with George MacDonald, who is his mentor. MacDonald becomes Lewis’s guide and tells him that he can choose to stay in heaven. Along the ride to heaven, Lewis meets up with other characters who have to overcome their sins in order to reach heaven. Lewis must make the decision to stay in either heaven or hell. “The Great Divorce” was adapted by George Drance and the Magic Theatre Company.
“The show is unique due to the intimacy that the audience will encounter with this production, which allows them to be right next to the action. I believe that this will help the audience travel along with Lewis as he explores the decision that lies before him,” said Davis.
“My favorite part about directing ‘The Great Divorce’ has been the ability to grow along with the actors and designers. Taking an idea and turning it into a message that can be conveyed to the audience is one of the greatest opportunities that I have had the pleasure of being a part of at Sterling,” said Davis.
While at Sterling, Davis has served as the lighting designer for the theatre, designing the lighting for “South Pacific,” “Medea,” “Children of Eden,” and “The Glass Menagerie.” He has also been involved in other aspects of technical theatre such as carpentry and sound.
The cast of “The Great Divorce” includes Elijah Klein of Valley Center; Tate Strasner of Mount Hope; Travis Norton of Liberal; Raven Taylor of Wichita; Cody Green of Wichita; Cody Martin of Hutchinson; Chelsey Moore of Wichita; Jacob Blackwell of Salina; David Spencer of Lyndon; Darsha Bechard of Belleville; Emily Walker of Sterling; Chloe Vierra of Lyons; Carlton Ryker of Wichita; Shiloh Duff of Scott City; Shane Rogers of Wichita; Nathan Ehresman of Wichita; Bridgette Gibbs of Hutchinson; and Nate Sizemore of Clearwater.
Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu<http://www.sterling.edu/>.