by Charles Nugent

arts & life editor

This past weekend, tucked away in the corner of the Christian Center, students performed the second annual Major Havoc to a sold-out crowd. Major Havoc is a show consisting of 30 plays put on in a span of 60 minutes. Students write, direct and act all of the plays. Theater professor Peter Friedrich simply supervises and provides the students with direction when necessary, but the students put on the bulk of the show.

This year saw some slight differences from last year. Due to increased participation, this year two groups each performed their own set of 30 plays. For some students the split was tough at first, but they came to enjoy the sense of competition between the two groups.

The plays covered a wide variety of topics. Some had the crowd erupting in laughter, while others left the crowd silent as the cast spoke on a very serious and personal issues. But all of the plays shared a common feeling that they were very important to the cast, and a sense of pride that came from performing something that was really their own.

Jeremy Obach, a senior and Major Havoc veteran, spoke about his experience being part of the play. For him, Major Havoc is important because it is a “more accessible form of acting” and he enjoys getting to write his own plays. For him, and other students, writing plays and acting them out is a good way to deal with personal issues. Obach said that Major Havoc is an “empowering experience,” citing the great crowd energy this year. The tiny Black Box theater where the plays are held provides a great opportunity for crowd interaction in plays such as “You are a Carb” in which the cast throws food at the crowd, or “Betty Crocker’s Quick and Easy Beef,” in which a member of the crowd is asked to join the cast and read some “hot and steamy” cooking directions.

Major Havoc offers a unique creative outlet for students on campus, and hopefully its growth can continue in years to come.