Millsaps Players: Passage by Christopher Chen Review

By Skylar Smith

The Millsaps Players presented their performance of Passage by Christopher Chen from September 28 until October 1, 2023. The play itself is loosely based on E.M. Forester’s classic 1924 novel A Passage to India. 

The play adapts the themes of friendship and the colonial commentary that wrote Forester into the history of literature. Instead of England and India, however, the play is oriented around Country X and Country Y. This obvious use of common mathematical variables suggests that Chen intends for the countries to be widely adaptable. The characters are similarly identified using only letters, which expertly neutralizes the viewer’s perception of them. 

The first thing an audience member notices about the play is the gorgeous set design. The stage is framed by a large square, with curtains hanging from the back wall and a colorful pattern on the floor. This space is utilized brilliantly throughout the plot to give the appearance of different locations and tones. This is done by an expert use of lights and sound that bring the space alive. 

The play is largely dialogue-based, and thus the performance was dependent on the acting. The Millsaps Players showcased their hard work and skill in a performance that was ripe with chemistry and emotion. The dialogue and monologues throughout dealt with complex issues that the audience was encouraged to contemplate. In fact, the viewer was often directly addressed; at one point, they were even told to take a short break and not leave the room. This caused a short intermission where many people conversed with their neighbors about the performance.

During one of these speeches to the audience, the narrator directly mentions the play’s connection to A Passage to India and suggests that the story is meant to evolve over time. This is just one of the interesting questions that the performance inspires the audience to ponder. The play constantly encourages direct reflection. At the end of the play, viewers are left with a new perspective on many pressing issues, stimulating conversation among fellow audience members. 

Passage showcased the Millsaps Players' ability to put on a thoughtful performance with exemplary acting, set design, and lighting. Leaving the theatre, one is left with not only plentiful new perspectives but also a sense of pride for the talent of the Millsaps Theatre Department. 

Millsaps Players will put on a second performance this semester. Legacy of Light by Karen Zacarias is set to run from November 9-12th (opening night is tonight!). The performances are on the third floor of the AC in the Bowen-Howell Theatre. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students.