Students perform "Rhinoceros"

The Department of Creative and Performing Arts at LSMSA presented “Rhinoceros” Nov. 10-13 in the Black Box located in the Center for Performance and Technology.

According to Jeff Thomakos, lecturer of theater at LSMSA and director of the production, “Rhinoceros” is often labeled as theater of the absurd. It is an existentialist idea of theater based largely on the search for meaning in a society where language and purpose have broken down to the point where society crumbles and individuality strives vainly for existence.

“Our approach has been to look at this play as a kind of comedy/horror hybrid,” said Thomakos. “There are elements of our modern predilection with zombies in this play. However, instead of zombies, we are dealing with large, horned pachyderms. The play is funny, of course, and its treatment of this very real horror show is very comic. Finally, we move directly into the real horrors of war, fascism, mob-mentality, racism and extremism.”

Members of the cast included Lucy Rhymes, a senior from Breaux Bridge; Milla Reddick, a junior from Grand Cane; Kelsey Meshell, a senior from Bossier City; Parker Felterman, a senior from Patterson; Sidney Paulk, a senior from Deville; Charlie Roppolo, a junior from Denham Springs; Sierra Bailey, a senior from Hammond; Annie Noel, a senior from Mandeville; Grace Dumdaw, a senior from Mandeville; and Shona McCullough, a senior from Baton Rouge.

Technical crew members included Caitlin Foster, a junior from LaPlace; Caroline Adkins, a sophomore from Shreveport; Ruby Kharod, a junior from Opelousas; Beth Fontenot, a senior from Ville Platte; Rory Marziale, a senior from Bush; Zoe Matt, a senior from Washington; Ben Bordelon, a senior from Mandeville; Chas Chapman, a senior from Haughton; Allyssa Neubauer, a junior from Lake Charles; KC Saxon, a junior from Livingston; Ryleigh Scott, a sophomore from Shreveport; Molly Gonsoulin, a junior from Franklin; Ashton Behrendsen, a junior from Natchitoches; Samantha Neubauer, a senior from Lake Charles; Emily Ann Dart, a junior from Bossier City; and Caitlyn Morrison, a junior from Gloster.