by Doug Trumm 

This weekend, the CSB/SJU Theater Department will stage its final performances of Bertolt Brecht’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle,” at the Gorecki Theatre.

The play opened last weekend.

“The audience has responded well,” director Adam Houghton said.

In 1948, Carleton College was first to produce “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” after Brecht’s plans to stage the show on Broadway fell apart. Since then, it has become one of his most popular plays.

“I love how the play focuses on ensemble work,” first-year Mason Mahoney said. “We are a really tight-knit group, and it’s been fun.”

The play is set in fictional Caucasian City in Soviet Georgia, near the end of WWII.

In the prologue, a delegate settles an argument between two groups of peasants over a parcel of land. His ruling is so agreeable, that the people decide to perform a play to celebrate.

A kitchen maid, Grusha, is the heroine of the first half of the play while a judge named Azdak (junior James Bockwinkel) dominates the second half.

Junior Brittany Carlson plays Grusha.

“The best part about playing Grusha is that the audience is rooting for her,” Carlson said. “She has her ups and downs, but she’s the only character who always does the right thing.”

In the first act, Grusha and a soldier fall in love and get engaged, but chaos soon envelops the city.

The governor’s wife, senior Erin Fogle, carelessly leaves her baby son, Michael, behind for Grusha to save from the bloodthirsty rebels.

Grusha and Michael flee to her brother’s house. Unfortunately, Grusha’s brother forces her to marry a dying man who reveals he’s not actually dying.

Grusha cares for Michael until someone comes to take him back to the governor’s wife. Grusha helplessly cooperates, but goes back to the city to fight for custody.

Then, the play returns to the night of the rebellion to follow Azdak, who shelters a fugitive who he later discovers was the Grand Duke. They elect to make Azdak the city judge.

Grusha fights for custody of Michael, and Azdak determines the child’s fate. Azdak’s solution involves a chalk circle and a bit of Solomonic wisdom.

“Playing Grusha has challenged me because she is such an epic character. Her experiences are beyond what I can relate to from everyday life,” Carlson said. “This role has stretched me as an actor.”

Brecht’s play reflects his communist beliefs. At one point he was even forced to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee to answer for his communist “subversion.”

Today, most theatergoers consider Brecht no more subversive than any other playwright, and the CSB/SJU Theater Department has been happy to bring “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” to life.

Cast member and first-year Evan Schumacher encourages students to see at least one of the performances.

“It is a one-of-a-kind and a must-see play.”

Filed under: Arts, Variety by Doug Trumm