Brady Cates
bcates@uwyo.edu
“There is an iguana that gets caught and tied up around its neck. An iguana tied up around its neck can’t get itself loose; someone else has to come along and set it free otherwise it will die.”
This symbolism is seen throughout the play “Night of the Iguana” written by Tennessee Williams.
Patrick Konesko, theatre and dramatic literature professor at the University of Wyoming, explains that the play is about an Episcopal minister that has an awful lot to deal with in terms of his past in struggling with addiction and things of the like. The minister gets kicked out of his church and becomes a tour guide for tour buses that travel through Mexico in 1940, but he has gotten in some trouble with females on his tour bus.
“He goes to this resort in Costa Verde, Mexico to be with some old friends and they try to help him so he doesn’t ‘crack up’ or go insane because he is under so much stress,” Konesko said.
Konesko said that the rest of the play is about the people he meets in Costa Verde and how they try to help him cope with his past and the mistakes he has made. Then they try to figure out what he is
going to do in the future.
Jacob Claytor, theatre and computer science major at the University of Wyoming, said that everyone has skeletons in their closet and everyone has baggage, but until you can forgive yourself and let it go, you won’t be able to move on with your life.
“In the show almost every character is caught up with something and someone else has to come along and help that person out because they can’t do it themselves,” Claytor said.
Konesko said that these characters are trapped in their own way and looking for perspective, escape and a connection with other humans that can help them get out of that place.
“I think that everyone will get something different out of this play but everyone can relate to the need for somebody to hold out their hand and say let me help you,” Konesko said.
Konesko said that they have been rehearsing for the play since before Christmas break and then almost every day since school started back up.
“The rehearsals have been going very well. I am process oriented so I like to spend a lot of time talking with the cast about the play and digging into the history and characters,” Konesko said. “Rather than just telling everyone where to go and going over lines.”
Konesko also said that this is not an easy play and the language is difficult because it is so beautifully and poetically written. It is important to spend the time getting to know these characters and to be able to relate to them.
“I am thrilled about what I am seeing, the cast is doing excellent work,” Konesko said.
Claytor said he and the rest of the cast feel very well prepared coming into the play, but also feel some pressure.
‘The character that I am playing is a lot of pressure just because he is so complicated which makes it stressful, but the rehearsal process has been going very well overall,” Claytor said.
There are three leads in the play. The first lead being T. Lawrence Shannon played by Jacob Claytor, the second Maxine Faulk played by Brianna Cordova and the third Hannah Jelkes played by Jenna Blazek.
Claytor said that in getting ready for the play there has to be a lot of trust in the other people on stage and emphasis on not being afraid to try new things during the rehearsal process.
“It is very important for a cast to have a sense of community where everyone gets along and everyone is willing to respect each other for everything to move along smoothly,” Claytor said.
‘Night of the Iguana’ will be showing Feb. 9-13 in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.
