‘Symphony for Three’ to premiere today

Instead of showing a typical version of “Romeo and Juliet,” where two young people fall deeply in love, the Bloomington Playwrights Project will present a story unafraid to examine imperfect love.\n“Symphony for Three,” directed by Ben Gougeon, will premiere at 8 p.m. today at the BPP, 107 W. Ninth St. The play will show at 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. every Sunday through March 1.\nThe play focuses on three composers from 19th century Germany and the love triangle that formed among them. Composers Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann allegedly had an affair in the 1850s, while Clara’s husband, Robert Schumann, suffered a terminal illness, went mad and was admitted into an asylum.\nLocal playwright Mike Smith takes these three composers from history and brings them to America during the politically charged 1960s. In his work, Smith diverges from the historical facts a little while trying to stay true to the spirit of the composers.\nIn the play, Brahms, played by actor Alex Martin, is a graduate student who eventually becomes a folk singer, and then a rock star. Clara, played by Carmen Rae Meyers, is a writer, while Robert, played by Steve Heise, remains a composer, but is also a political activist. Robert also has bipolar disorder in the play, which was called manic-depressive disorder in the ’60s.\nSmith said all the composers in the play have much respect for each other, as the real composers did. However, he said all the characters have a difficult time controlling their emotions. Clara, while she respects her husband and his work, falls in love with the young Brahms, who fights against his own feelings.\n“It shows that love is difficult and tragic sometimes,” Smith said. “We are not always in command of our hearts.”\nHeise said the play offers different perceptions of each character. With Robert, his character, Heise said he believes the audience might learn how difficult it is to live with bipolar disorder.\n“It’s not something that he wishes,” he said. “(The audience could) understand how that happens to someone.”\nSmith said the play teaches something else about the human condition through Robert.\n“‘Genius’ is both a curse and a blessing,” he said.\nIU junior Christine Derek plays the role of “Stephanie,” a young student studying social work who meets Robert. Derek has also starred in the “Vagina Monologues,” “Amadeus” and other performances on campus during her time at IU.\nDerek said her character causes conflict between the Schumanns, as Clara claims Robert is having an affair with her. She said the play as a whole might show audiences how important love is.\n“It shows you what can go wrong,” Derek said. “It makes you appreciate what you have.”\nThe Project’s Public Relations Director Gabe Gloden said taking these three composers in history and bringing them to the ’60s might raise awareness of the composers and help the audience better relate to the characters.\n“(The play) helps you appreciate the composers’ work,” he said.\nHe also said there is no need for the audience to know who the 19th century composers were to understand the play.\n“Regardless of what you know about (the composers) ... it’s a love story,” Gloden said.\nBoth Heise and Derek noted the irony of having a play revolving around a love triangle premiere on Valentine’s Day.\n“I’m not sure if we’re going to hand out candy hearts,” Heise said. “If I were to see it on Valentine’s Day, it would be with someone whom I loved deeply.”\nTickets cost $15 for general admission and $12 for students and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the Sunrise Box Office at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. There will be $5 rush tickets available for students five minutes before show time.