The College of the Ozarks Theatre Department presented their fall play on December 6, 7 and 8, at Jones Auditorium on the C of O campus. “Light Up the Sky,” written by assistant professor of communication arts and radio station manager Josh Williams, received enthusiastic audience approval for its excellent presentation under the direction of Lisa Young, associate professor of theatre, as well as for its challenging and faith-based take on a difficult topic.
Strong performances by the two leads, Victoria Rivera as Lizzie Foster and Jacob Priestner as James Hickenbottom, were supported by excellent renditions from the entire cast. In the context of the women’s suffrage movement and the closing months of World War I, the story highlights Lizzie’s desire to be strong and independent, complicated by her overbearing personality in a traditional family with women primarily serving at home. James, working as a handyman for Lizzie’s father, sees deeper potential beyond her brassiness, and the relationship grows via letters during his Army service but must still come to resolution of the complexities.
In a press release prior to the performances, Williams shared that he wrote the play in an attempt to tackle issues facing women today, and to point out that it is not mutually exclusive for women to find love simultaneously with independence. World War I and World War II helped bring this question to the forefront of society, as women participated in the war effort by tackling—successfully—roles traditionally held by men.
Williams said he also wanted to focus on a biblical definition of a man being the “head of the household.” Priestner’s masterful delivery of that definition was, in many audience members’ opinion, the high point of the play.
The humor and romantic comedy style of “Light Up the Sky” accomplish the goals of being entertaining while thought-provoking, leaving theatre-goers glad they made time during the busy holiday season for an enjoyable evening; the takeaways will remain relevant for decades to come.
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