WGST Event: Rhinoceros

I recently saw the CCU Theatre Department’s mainstage performance of Rhinoceros, and I went in completely blind. Growing up around theatre, I was used to musicals more than plays, so I had never even heard of this show before. I did not know what to expect, but it ended up being one of the funniest performances I have ever seen. The play is set around the time of World War II in a small French town where people slowly start turning into rhinoceroses. It sounds strange, but it is actually a metaphor for conformity during that time, showing how people followed the crowd even when it was dangerous. Even with that deeper meaning, the show was still hilarious. From the start, the cast brought so much energy and passion to the stage. You could tell they really cared about their craft. Every actor fully committed to the weird and absurd world of the play, which made it even funnier. Their timing and expressions kept the audience laughing the entire time. One of my favorite moments was with the housewife and her cat. When the cat dies, they hold a funeral and sing a parody of “Amazing Grace” called “Amazing Puss.” It was so unexpected and ridiculous that I could not stop laughing. Honestly, I was laughing throughout the whole show. What I really liked is how the play mixed humor with a serious message. While I was laughing, I was also thinking about how people act under pressure and how easy it is to just follow others. Overall, this performance changed how I see plays. It showed me they can be just as fun and meaningful as musicals, and I am really glad I went.

---- Emily