Hermetic

Hermetic, an original play by Jeff Casey, was produced on April 28th & 30th, 2010 in the Hemsley Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hermetic was produced through the UW University Theatre's and the Theater and Drama Graduate Student Organization's Open Stages initiative.

Tom and Dick live and work in a bunker, mechanically transcribing messages in codes they do not understand. Tom is regimented and pedantic; Dick curious and convivial. The long hours, the cramped work conditions and personality differences create friction and mutual suspicion between the two. Are the unseen project managers putting something in their medications? Is one of them conspiring against the other?

Tim Hamilton directed the play with Jeff Casey serving as assistant director. The production used a minimal set combined with atmospheric lighting to focus attention on the central actors and their increasingly paranoid and antagonistic relationships, creating a psychologically realistic but febrile aesthetic.

The play starred Nick Barsuli, Erin Hood and Ryan Williams with Arrie Callahan, Andy Knuth, Annelise Dickinson and Robert Pham. Lighting and sound design by Chelsie McPhilimy and Stephanie Siller. See the program for the play designed by our dramaturg Megwyn Sanders-Andrews with text by Jeff Casey.