What: "Drinking in America," presented by Scene One Theatre.
When: Jan. 8-10 and 15-17, 7:30 p.m.
Where: 121 E. High St. in Jefferson City
Tickets: $10 for all shows except opening night at $5, 573-635-6713.
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A play depicting American life and experiences by Eric Bogosian is the current production for Scene One Theatre.
The play questions American stereotypes and forces the audience to scrutinize their contrived boundaries when confronted with portrayals of addicts, winos, evangelists and yuppies.
Written in the early 1980s, the show is a monologue. Originally it was performed by one actor, but director Mark Wegman is using five actors to appear in the play.
Each actor portrays the taking of America, the absorbing America.
Through dialogue the actors take the audience from the homeless to the rich. Characters are shown in various social settings and different conflicts and issues in their lives.
The cast includes Tom Renner, Chris Kennison, Jerico Whitaker, Doug Richardson and Courtney Desko.
"The play is two acts with very limited sets or props which is a perfect fit for Scene One," Wegman said.
The lack of sets and props is a challenge for the actors who have to hold attention with their dialogue.
"The whole idea of the show is that theater can entertain you but can also offend you. It is a show that is in your face, depicting scenes that are not pretty," Wegman said. "It is designed to provoke the audience to thoughts about their own lives and beliefs."
It is a show definitely intended for adults.