On Thursday night, I had the opportunity to attend the Department of Performing and Media Arts’ performance of On the Verge at the Schwartz Center. The play chronicled three Victorian women who travel through time and their encounters with different characters. I was particularly impressed with the play’s humor, deep messages, and the actors’ eloquence.

I found the play to be not only informative as it portrayed the three women throughout different historical periods, but also very amusing. The actors effectively made the audience laugh while simultaneously conveying deep messages. I enjoyed On the Verge’s references to significant events in the U.S. such as the invention of the first Kodak camera, World War II, and presidential campaigns. I was particularly amused when the three women found an ‘I like Ike’ button and searched everywhere for Ike (Ike was a nickname for Dwight Eisenhower during his presidential campaign). The mannerisms and voice inflections were also amusing.

Moreover, I was awed by the actors’ use of vocabulary. Their eloquence made me realize the unlimited potential of the English language. The actors used vocabulary I had seen only read in books. Also, I enjoyed the play’s nuances, as the language of the play propelled the women along the journey. The transition of language from a Victorian vernacular to an American slang as the women travelled through time was well-done. It almost seemed that the playwright was criticizing the deterioration of the English language, as the women became less eloquent as the play went on.

As characters and objects dropped haphazardly into the women’s presence, I thought that the play can be interpreted as defiance against patriarchy. The women not only explore unknown territory, but they also successfully evade dangers such as the yeti. The play also concludes with one of the women wearing jeans under her Victorian dress.

Overall, I had a wonderful time attending the play. It was evident that the students had put a lot of time and dedication into the great performance. This performance has made me even more excited about taking a class in the Department of Performing and Media Arts in the future!