November 07, 2014

‘Toil and Rubble’ will explore endings

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- It might not be the end of the whole world, but it might be the end of a world. 

Performance art at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Kleinau Theater offers a look at how things end. “Toil and Rubble: Media in Ruins,” plays Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 13-15, at the Kleinau Theater. Each performance begins at 8 p.m. 

The performance derives from original work by Lindsay Greer, a doctoral student in communication studies. She co-directs this production with Craig Gingrich-Philbrook, associate professor of performance studies. According to the description, “this is a show about endings, resisting them, and in the meantime, living.” Characters include a Girl Scout living in an abandoned library after the apocalypse; a woman who lives in the head of a silent movie actress and edits her dreams; and a psychic medium who channels the ghosts of old media. 

Gingrich-Philbrook explained that performance studies work tends to be made “on our feet,” with rehearsal part of the creative process. Though one character does live post-“end of the world” in this performance, the apocalyptic theme shows itself in the small things, the changes in culture that can erode our sense of the familiar. 

Tickets are $7 for the general public, and $5 for SIU students with valid I.D. Reserved tickets are available by calling the box office at 618/453-5618. Tickets are also available at the door beginning one hour before the performance.