Beast on the Moon and the Storytelling of Survival

By Alex MacDougall

On April 16-19, the curtains at Fuller Theater will rise once again as WSU Theatre presents its newest production, Beast on the Moon. A play telling the story of two survivors of the Armenian Genocide. The play is in recognition of the 100 year anniversary of the genocide that began in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

While one of the first genocides to occur in modern history (indeed, the word genocide was first used to describe the destruction of the Armenians), the Armenian Genocide is not as well known to Americans as the genocides of Rwanda or Hitler’s Holocaust.

This, perhaps, is because the American government —fearful of damaging relations with Turkey, an ally in the War on Terror that denies the genocide took place —has yet to recognize the Armenian Genocide as a genocide at all.

Tickets for the play are available through VPABoxOffice@worcester.edu, 508-929-8843, at the Student Center or at the door. The tickets are $14 general public, $10 senior citizens, and $7 for students. WOO card holders receive a discount.

Flordelino Lagundino, director of Beast on the Moon, hopes that by performing the play, he can raise further awareness on the struggle of the Armenians with an American audience.

“My goal is to tell stories that have gone unheard,” said Lagundino. “With Beast on the Moon, I want to make sure that the story of the Armenians is taken care of, heard and witnessed.”

Set in Milwaukee during the 1920s, Beast on the Moon tells the story of Aram, who has lost his entire family in the genocide, and orders an Armenian mail-order bride so that he may start a new family. However, complications arise when his bride, the young Seta, proves unable to have children.

Angela Georger, who plays the role of Seta, spoke about the opportunity she had to play the character.

“As a junior in the Worcester State VPA Department, I’ve played my fair share of interesting characters. However, there is just something about Seta that made me fall head over heels in love with her,” she said. “It might be her wit, her kindness, or her sheer will. She has the most incredible story of hope and survival; the audience will have to decide for themselves whether I do justice to such an incredible character and heartbreaking play.”

The premiere of Beast on the Moon also kicks off the Visual and Performing Arts Department’s Extreme “ARTery,” where the campus comes alive with a wide array of artistic events.