Time Surfing

"Slaughterhouse-Five"
Curio Theater Company
Through March 3rd

Get ready to become unstuck in time with Curio Theater’s production of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five.

The play follows Billy Pilgrim, a World War II soldier captured by the German army and held as a POW in an abandoned slaughterhouse known simply as “Slaughterhouse Five” during the bombing of Dresden. This reflects Vonnegut’s own experiences as a POW in World War II, when he was kept in the actual Slaughterhouse 5.

Billy survives the bombing, but is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. They put him in a zoo along with Montana Wildhack, a movie actress from Earth. The Tralfamadorians experience time differently from humans: they simultaneously experience every moment of their lives, past and future. As a captive, Billy begins to travel through time in his own life.

This production of Slaughterhouse-Five was adapted for the stage by Eric Simonson, a renowned American playwright from Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater Company in Chicago. While the original production had a cast of 25 actors playing 50 parts, Curio has produced a performance for seven actors. Actress Jennifer Summerfield also plays all the female roles in the production.

 Curios’ production is also unique for its extensive set design. Because the plot requires many scene changes as Billy moves throughout time, the Curio Theater Company designed a set made of six sections that are constantly split and moved along a rake platform. This will be a constantly changing and incredibly unique performance.    

Pictured from left to right: Josh Hitchens, Jerry Rudasill, Jennifer Summerfield (seated), Ryan Walter, Steve Carpenter, Ken Opdenaker and Paul Kuhn.

Images courtesy of Kyle Cassidy and the Curio Theater Company.