YPPC One-Act Performances 2021 Review

Yorkshire Playhouse Playwriting Contest presents "Waking Zombies" and "I Bargained; Anticipation" scripts from their 2019 contest. 

"Waking Zombies" is set in a nursing home and a grumpy Old Man's normally quiet life is turned upside down when an apathetic teenager drops-in to log community service hours. A modern-day tragic-comedy of those we tend to forget, Waking Zombies casually presents the question: Why are we really alone?

 "Waking Zombies" brings to light the complexity of life or rather the possible simplicity of it all. It tugs at your heart as the Old Man and the Teenager have a conversation that at first seems like it is going nowhere, but there is a moment where something breaks and the gap between generations doesn't seem so far apart anymore. In the midst of the conversation, the nurse brings comic relief in the midst of the tragedy that is life. The cast does a wonderful job bringing to life the Old Man, Teenager, and the Nurse. This show hit close to home, brought tears to my eyes, and I believe healing to my heart. 

"I Bargained; Anticipation" is about Tae, his wife,Elowen, and his daughter, Lilah. They live a perfectly normal life and nothing ever goes wrong. Ever. After all, Tae made a deal with something worse than the devil.

"I Bargained; Anticipation" was a show I had no way of knowing how to anticipate. In the opening scene, I immediately felt goosebumps. The passionate & powerful acting by the cast brought chills, filled my heart full of emotions and my mind with questions. I want to write more, but I may spoil it for the reader if I continue any further. This is a show that one must see for themselves!

If I could only choose one word to describe the two one-acts written by local Nebraska playwrights; Alexis Lacina & Mitchell Roush, it would be layers.

In Person Performances on May 20-21 @ 7:30PM, doors open at 7PM.

COVID regulations will still be enforced for this show. Masks will be worn by all cast and audience members, and in-person audiences will be limited.

Virtual Performances Premier on May 28 and will be available On-Demand May 29-30 all day.

The reason why I picked the word  layers is because as I watched the shows it was a continual discovery of something new. Or in other words the depth of humanity grows as one breaks through the layers of our souls. "I Bargained; Anticipation" and "Waking Zombies" did just that. 

Each show unveiled certain stages of life, provoked thought, evoked emotions, and left me wanting the shows to continue onto another act. 

The shows are appropriate for all ages, but I think younger children may have a hard time grasping the topics presented.

Come see both shows! It’s going to be a great night of live theatre, written by two Nebraska playwrights. 

by Lauran Ostberg