Play deals with racism in small town

Racism in a small New England college town is explored in the play "Spinning Into Butter."

The Contemporary American Theater Company is producing Rebecca Gilman's thought-provoking play. It is directed by Ed Vaughan, who teaches acting at Otterbein College.

The story begins when one of the only African American students of Belmont College, Belmont, VT reports that racist messages are being left at his dorm. The newly appointed dean of students, Sarah Daniels, has to figure out how to deal with the problem.

Bruce Hermann, who teaches acting and directing in the OSU Theater Department, plays Ross Collins, an art professor at Belmont College.

Hermann said the character of Sarah Daniels is complex because although she is well-educated and her focus is in African American Studies, she is well aware of racism existing in herself.

Gilman got the idea of Belmont, VT after visiting Middlebury College in Vermont where a similar incident occurred, Hermann said. The students at both Middlebury College and Belmont College come from old-money families. These colleges are the quintessential New England colleges where the tuition is expensive and the campuses are beautiful.

Even though the play deals with racism, there are no African Americans in the play. The student who receives the hate messages is talked about at length but never shown.

"People at Belmont College are shocked that racism exists there," Hermann said. "Anyone watching this play realizes that racism very much exists in culture. All of us can question racism and the possibility it exists within us. It is something that always needs to be looked at."

As the characters begin to deal with the problem, they go about it as colleges usually do, Hermann said. Among other things they hold forums and academic meetings. For this reason, students should come to see the play because they need to understand the world where the play takes place, he said.

Hermann directed the play over the summer at St. Michael's Playhouse, the summer theater of St. Michael's College outside of Burlington, VT. He said it was interesting to direct the play in Vermont especially because the main character, Sarah Daniels, moves to Belmont because there are not very many black people in Vermont.

"When people face adversity, it stirs characters, who would otherwise lie dormant, into action," Hermann said about acting. "You see human beings dealing with other human beings. The traps are to stereotype the characters — actors must discover humans in their characters."

"It is a play about racism in academia but it is also very funny and very human," Hermann said. "The ending is a surprise for anyone who sees it."

The Los Angeles Times said "Spinning Into Butter" is a play that "challenges its audience to talk candidly and personally about race."

"It is just a good evening of theater," Hermann said.

CATCO's production of "Spinning Into Butter" runs now through Nov. 11 at the Studio Two Theatre. Call 461-0010 to purchase tickets.