'It's still a timely topic'

Lansing Community College revisits 'The Shrike'

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Friday, Nov. 4 —  JosephKramm’s “The Shrike” is Lansing Community College’s entry in the sixth annualStages of the Law series, sponsored by Cooley Law School. “The Shrike” opens tonightat Dart Auditorium.

The drama is directed by Paige Dunckel, a theater teacher at LCC. She has used theplay in her classes before. “I always knew I wanted to direct it,” she said.

“TheShrike” debuted on Broadway in 1952 and was turned into a movie shortly afterward.It focuses on a man driven to the brink of insanity as a result of hismanipulative wife. The subject of mental health is what drew Dunckel to theshow.

“It’sstill a timely topic,” she said. “Everyone has dealt with someone in theirfamily or extended family that may have had mental health issues. It’s acontinual problem.

“Iwanted to explore the family dynamic. We can still get a message out of thatstory.”

Althoughthe play is over 50 years old, Dunckel didn’t approach it with a historicalpoint of view. “I approached it as a psychological drama. Even though it’s themain character that’s committed, all the other characters are affected as well —doctors, nurses, family members,” she said.

Thecast features Michael Banghart, Beth Martin and Ken Beachler. The Nov. 5performance is

Cooley Night, with two-for-one tickets, areception and a talkback featuring a Cooley Law School professor Kim O’Leary.

“TheShrike”

LansingCommunity College

DartAuditorium

ThroughNov. 12

8p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 (sign interpreted)

$10general admission; $5 for LCC faculty, staff, alumni and all students

(517)372-0945

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