‘Working’ sends a meaningful message

Cast members of the communications and theatre arts department’s production, ‘Working,’ onstage in the Kulas Auditorium.

This past Friday and Saturday, audiences assembled in the John Carroll University Kulas Auditorium to reap the benefits of the truthful message presented by the cast of “Working.”  

“Working” is a candid musical put on by 18 fervent JCU performers and seven talented musicians. The musical is based upon author Studs Terkel’s 1974 book, “Working” and is directed by the JCU Communications and Theatre Arts Department Chair Karen Gygli. Terkel’s piece mimics the mundane actions of ordinary people trying to survive the trials and tribulations of their demanding jobs.

While entering the theatre, the audience is immediately exposed to the musical’s simple, yet extravagant set design.  It is made up of ladders, chairs, desks and hard hats. This scenery, devised by JCU Communications and Theatre Arts professor Keith Nagy, aids the viewer in pondering the meaning of the production’s title, “Working.”
It quickly reveals to the viewer that the meaning of the story will revolve around the tough, unwanted jobs many must endure to make a living and essentially survive in today’s fast-paced world. As the lights dim, audiences are quickly swept away into the reality of the lives of schoolteachers, office managers, mill workers, grocery baggers, cleaning women, receptionists, firefighters and many more who are struggling to find happiness in their tedious occupations.  

Act 1, titled “Early in the Day,” is composed of many characters, one by one speaking on the realities of their particular professions. Each actor used harsh words and phrases to describe their typical work routine. It is the character’s way of letting the audience know how they feel–mistreated, unimportant, unappreciated and worthless.  
The opening act gives the viewer a dose of reality and a chance to relate to the characters. There are many people in the world today who feel as though they are defined not by themselves, but rather by their job. They feel as though they cannot keep up with the increasing demand of a college education, rapidly changing technology or societal expectations.  

Freshman Ariel Johnson plays a cleaning woman named Maggie. She described her role “as a voice for millions of parents who want nothing more than to give their children the life they could not have. She has a powerful message in her song, and I hope that it makes people think about those who often struggle to make ends meet.”

As the first act comes to a close, the enthusiastic cast joins together to sing “What I Could Have Been,” a poignant song led by sophomore Taylor Nagy. This particular piece creates wonder and regret about having the opportunity to create something of yourself and never knowing what could have been.

Taylor commented on her part as a prostitute, “My character is not ashamed of what she does, and she is proud of the money she earns doing her job, yet she realizes that she has worked herself numb and feels regret as she knows she had the potential to be so much more than what she has become.” The lyrics of the song created an emotional and moving closing for Act 1.   

During the brief 15-minute intermission, viewers seemed extremely satisfied with the production thus far.  There were several positive comments made about the final song in Act 1 which left the audience eager to see more.  Soon enough, the lights began to flicker and the crowd took their seats in the hopes of a successful second act. Act 2 was titled “Later in the Day.” It is in this act that the professions represented on stage began to tell their stories in a more optimistic light.

They continue to speak of long hours at the office, harsh working conditions and the feeling of never being able to escape their mundane routines, but they are somehow able to outweigh the negatives with the few encouraging aspects of their jobs.  

For example, a firefighter is not just a firefighter, he is able to make a difference and save lives and a waitress is not just a waitress, instead it is portrayed as an art.  
As the characters begin to develop a new perspective, so do the songs.  Instead of sad, gloomy lyrics, the words suddenly speak of hope and change in the workforce for the future. The words begin to send out a more hopeful message to the audience. This is especially seen in the final song, “See that Building.”

This production speaks of the importance of being able to point to something you accomplished and to be proud of its magnificence. This musical scene defines this two-hour musical and leaves you looking forward to the future. “Working” is a delightful, well-organized, professional production that confronts stereotypes and harsh realities for millions of working people everywhere.