Scott Butler Directs Play in "Short Stuff 2017"

2017 Apr 12

The directing work of advanced theatre students at Eastern Connecticut State University was on display this past weekend for "Short Stuff," an annual showcase of student-produced short plays. Written by established playwrights such as David Ives and Jon Jory, the plays featured in "Short Stuff 2017" ran the gamut of genres and themes, with all acting and behind-the-scenes functions performed by students.

Scott Butler '17 of Salem directed "Awkward Silence," originally written by Jay Reiss. Butler majors in music and theatre with concentrations in vocal performance, acting and directing.

According to Samuel French, Inc., which permitted Eastern to use the script, the plot is as follows: "A boy and girl meet and speak as though in a novel: He said and then she said. Small talk and awkward silences descend into blah blah blah. Each considers breaking away but remembers how it is to be alone. They reminisce about childhood, growing up and so on until they suddenly become animated and rise to witty banter, establishing a rapport with no more awkward silences."

The Theatre Program has presented "Short Stuff" for more than 20 years. The short play format provides students the opportunity to further hone their talents while delighting a public audience. This year, the showcase was presented on April 8-9 in the Delmonte Studio Theatre of the Fine Arts Instructional Center.