‘Topsy Turvy World’ is a one-of-a-kind theatrical production
By Adam Spector//Staff Writer
On April 12, High Point University’s student production of “Topsy-Turvy World” premiered in Hayworth Fine Arts Center, and also had shows on April 13 and 14. The play is based on a script from 1798 by German Romanticist Ludwig Tieck that had never been previously performed. The script was adapted by Dr. Nathan Hedman, assistant professor of English and Theatre, who is responsible for show selection, production and college community outreach. This play marks not only the last show of the year for the Theatre Department, but this was also director Ed Simpson’s final production at HPU. Simpson has directed more than 40 productions for both educational and professional theaters throughout the country, including a number of HPU productions such as “The Glasses,” “Our Town,” and “Little Shop of Horrors.”
“Topsy-Turvy World” is rather difficult to explain, as it is a very quirky and offbeat play. It’s a play about a playwright who watches his own play be taken over by the audience and the difficult actors, who switch characters mid-play. After this, the show digresses into a number of different plays of varying styles within the play. Even though they are different plays, everything that happens on and off stage is very much connected, and these plays often intercept each other. Hedman should be commended for his work, as adapting this highly complex play from the German language could not have been an easy task. Hedman should also be applauded for making what I never imagined would work into a very good play.
This show is packed with great performances. Every actor in the play did a commendable job of playing audience members, actors and characters in the plays within the play. The actor that completely stole the show was guest artist and professional actor Brian Mullins. Not only was he arguably the funniest character in the play, but he also gave an exceptional performance, and he clearly gave every second on stage his absolute all. Another impressive performance came from student actress Kitt Curtis. Curtis managed to pull off three different characters, playing an unruly audience member, a newscaster and even a sheep. The other performance that really stood out came from Jordan Dallam. He grabbed the audience’s attention in nearly every scene he was in and did the best cartwheel since Chris Farley in 1995. To my surprise, the actor portraying the playwright who watched his own play be taken over was Simpson, the director himself. Not only was I surprised that he was actually in the play, but I was also impressed by his great enthusiasm and energy.
In addition to being extremely well acted, well directed, and very funny, the design department also excelled in every element in “Topsy-Turvy World,” proving that a comedy can also be highly artistic. Matthew Emerson and the rest of the design team created a very interesting and bizarre set that fit the play perfectly. In addition to this, there were two screens on both sides of the stage that showed what was going on behind the (fictional) scenes. They were somehow able to pull this off seamlessly, and it really added to the look, style, and humor in the play. Liz Stewart has once again done a phenomenal job with the lighting design and effects, and I was truly impressed by the overall design of the play.
As complicated, convoluted and strange as “Topsy-Turvy World” was, it was a very enjoyable play that managed to be clever, quirky, funny, artistic and self-aware. It was clear with every single detail that a great deal of work was put into the play, and every element complemented the overall experience. Hedman, Simpson and the rest of the cast and crew put together something that would make Ludwig Tieck proud.