On Tuesday, October 8th, I had the fortune of viewing As It Is In Heaven, by Arlene Hutton, at the Robinson Theatre in the Simons Center – and I mean fortune literally. Arriving 10 minutes before the 7:30 opening and immediately facing an out-the-door will call line, I swiftly became aware that I had drastically underestimated the demand for this show. I ultimately was able to buy my ticket after the will call line ran out, but it left me in wonder: how was so much awareness raised for this play? Was it word-of-mouth praise, or great advertising? I have to think that some was simply the college art community, combined with the fact that it was the last show of its run. After I was able to buy my ticket, only two more people in line received tickets before they ran out.
Tickets were $15, or $10 for students, faculty, and seniors, so income was being generated. However, being a college theater performance, I can only imagine profit was of least importance. The profits generated from these performances, which arguably are great due to the demand and wide range of age seen at the performance (I saw from preteen to elderly), probably went to covering the costs of production and supporting the theater department and thereby furthering education. The production itself was the most elaborate I’ve seen at the college set and costume-wise, but even so seemed relatively simple. The performances by the actors were impeccable, certainly outshining the play itself. This and the relatively low cost (especially student discount) made me optimistic for future productions, very much encouraging me to see more of what the College of Charleston theater department has to offer.
