Matthew Bessette
  • English & Theatre
  • Class of 2020
  • Lebanon, CT

Eastern Student Matthew Bessette Brings 'Awakenings: Youth and Chitra' to Stage

2018 Apr 16

Themes of youth, love and enlightenment were on display in Eastern Connecticut State University's latest theatrical production, "Awakenings: 'Youth' by Thornton Wilder and 'Chitra' by Rabindranath Tagore." From April 5-8, the two one-act plays transformed Eastern's DelMonte Bernstein Studio Theatre into a tropical island and then into a lush Hindu dreamscape.

Among the students involved was Matthew Bessette '18 of Lebanon, who majors in English and Theatre. Bessette was the director of "Youth."

"The play I chose to direct for my theatre capstone project was a satirical allegory for youth culture of the 1960s; therein, its characters take the decade's resentment of old age to the extreme," said Bessette of "Youth." "What results is a dramatic comedy on a tropical island with equal parts over-the-top humor and thought-provoking drama."

"Youth" unfolds when a shipwrecked middle-aged man stumbles upon the shores of an island inhabited only by young people. The islanders are repulsed by his gray hair and wrinkly skin, and demonize him for coming from a world with values of which they disapprove. The naivety of the islanders is clear, however, as the worldly man exhibits compassion and wisdom that changes the fate of some of the youth.

"Youth" is part three of "The Ages of Man," Wilder's unfinished series of plays that symbolize infancy, childhood, youth and middle age. According to Bessette, "Of the completed four parts of 'Ages,' the first two - 'Infancy' and 'Childhood' - were published during his lifetime and widely produced. The third and fourth, however, were made public only after his death."

Bessette decided to direct "Youth" because it's not very well known. "Therefore I would get the chance to prove myself and set a precedent for future productions. Furthermore, its thematic presence is so strong and yet it's so cleverly written that it comes across as nothing more than a meaningless farce to the unobservant viewer. Because it effortlessly blends humor and horror, I interpret it as a drama deliberately masquerading as a comedy to hide its more serious intentions from the unworthy eye."

After a brief intermission, theatregoers returned to a dimly lit, green-tinged set for "Chitra." The tale centers upon Chitrangada, a princess torn between the demands of being a warrior and the desires of embracing her femininity. With the help of the gods of love and youth, Chitra is transformed into an image of beauty that attracts the attention of the great warrior Arjuna. But she is not true to herself or Arjuna, living a double life, until the powers of love and honesty unite them.

"Awakenings: 'Youth' and 'Chitra'" involved a cast and crew of more than 50 Eastern students, staff and faculty who created elaborate sets, costumes, projections, sound effects and dance choreographies.