Two nights ago, with no audience but myself and a fellow box office colleague along with a few departmental staff members, watched the final dress rehearsal of “Tea With Mint or Lemon?” I had no program, no synopsis, just a brief idea of what the play was about. A rehearsal and a performance that goes terribly wrong. And on top of all that, I don’t speak French!

WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE!!!

I sat back and relaxed, knowing that I had no chance of understanding what was being said, and watched the play. I found myself understanding what was going on because I wasn’t concerned about understanding the language. I laughed till my sides hurt. This was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had in the theater. The company of actors are incredible, and their grasp of the language was amazing. Some of the actors in the company are in the spotlight for the first time and they all shine brightly! What an amazing group of people I go to school with!

I invite everyone out there to please come and try this wonderful play! If you sit back, relax, read your program and the synopsis, and don’t even try to understand what is being said, you will understand what is happening! University theater is an environment in which to try new things, unexplored ideas, and to take risks. That is OK. If we fail, some audiences walk out hating what we do, in reality, that’s no failure! This is the place to try and fall! I hope audiences could come to an understanding of that when coming to a university show. We are learning. Exploring our craft. Sometimes treading on shaky ground. That is a good thing! University theater is not a place to see your all too familiar gems! It is a place to try something new. I hope everyone out there will come out of their comfort zones and try something new with this wonderful production! You won’t regret it!