War, destruction, love and death are just a few of the subjects that will be explored in the upcoming shows at Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC). “Far Away” will open Thursday, Oct. 10 in the White Box Studio Theater. The show, written in 2000 by Caryl Churchill, imagines a future in which people live in a world where they are faced with war at every turn. The Churchill play will be followed by Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter,” which takes place in a basement during the 1960s, where two grunt workers await instructions from a higher power.

Directed by Savannah Whetsell, FCLC ’15, “Far Away” will be performed first. The audience will follow Joan, played by Caitlin Ronan, FCLC ’15, through her life as she tries to make sense of the war and chaos that surrounds her. In the process, the audience will enjoy the unveiling of Joan’s love story and witness how a close relationship with her aunt will affect her views of the world. The play is simple and has a dark undertone.

“This play is needed right now, because we’re being exposed to so much war and so much hate and so much violence”  Whetsell said at “Play Talk,” during a Directing Production Workshop. “It is vital that people have theatre to put things in perspective and see how illogical it is to kill one another.”

“The Dumb Waiter” emphasizes the moral struggles of those at the bottom of social structures in Britain. The show takes place in a single room, where Gus, played by Tony Macht, FCLC ’17, waits to receive instructions from his superiors with his colleague, Ben, played by Daniel Duren, FCLC ’17.

The uniqueness of this play lies in Pinter’s ability to make a moment last. Set in a very short period of time, the play addresses multiple philosophical issues like the meanings of human life and identity, while keeping the audience entertained with witty and provocative dialogue.

Andrew Watkins, FCLC ’15, director of the “The Dumb Waiter,” said he chose this play because he feels that it is “a good observation of human nature and how power preserves itself through force,” adding that “Dumb Waiter” is a “huge critique on the system of hierarchies…and how people in power abuse those below them.”

Both plays were written in the United Kingdom and have philosophical and political messages about how the structures within society affect the people at the bottom.  Set Designer Noah Goldstein, FCLC ’16, claims that both “Far Away” and “The Dumb Waiter “are unique because they are not particularly eventful or fast paced. Instead, the plays rely on suspense and well-written dialogue to keep the audience entertained.”

IF YOU GO

“Far Away” and “The Dumb Waiter”

When: Thursday Oct. 10 – Fri. Oct. 12
Where: White Box Studio Theater
Price: Free with reservations
Timw: 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.