SWOSU’s Theater Department rounds out the 2024-25 school year with Kodachrome. A timeless story set in Connecticut, following couples, young and old, and our tragic protagonist, Suzanne.
Unlike “The Rocky Road to Krodonia,” the program didn’t have a word search, one of my few qualms with this play. Compared to the set of the previous production Krodonia, the scenic design for Kodachrome is a more minimalist/muted environment, placing Suzanne in the world between moments and memories. Throughout the whole play, the question of time: how we remember it and how we capture it is of great importance, an interesting contrast to the fleeting feeling of the production. It seemed like it had just begun when the intermission started, then the intermission felt like years in anticipation of the second half. The program says it runs approximately two hours long, but in actuality, it runs around an hour and a half, but it feels like 20 minutes.
Kodachrome’s tone starkly differs from the first two performances this year, “Falling in Fall” and Krodonia, a much more somber and heavier mood compared to the lighter upbeat entertainment of Krodonia and the more mild-mannered drama in “Falling in Fall.” While romance is integral to the plot, sadness and longing drive it forward, until its ultimate conclusion makes you reach for the tissues.
The plot is driven by Suzanne’s (Sydnie Skinner) spectacular performance as a photographer who chronicles the budding and concluding romances through photographs shown live on stage. Sydnie’s performance and audience interaction make you feel invested from the start. The whole Kodachrome cast shines, and their ability to switch characters highlights their aptitude on stage, but the standout performance comes from senior Chase Dawson and his performance of the loveable Gravedigger and longing History Professor.
Besides the missing crossword, I had to nitpick to find any issue with this play; in particular, the setting. Said to be Connecticut, but lists Oklahoma towns at one point, but this is so incredibly menial it doesn’t take away from the play, and the mention of Yukon redeems it. Go Millers!
There will only be 4 performances of Kodachrome, so you don’t want to miss it. The show opens tonight, Thursday, April 24th at 7 pm at the Hilltop Theater and will show Friday and Saturday at the same time, and a Sunday Matinee will at 2 pm.
