“Midwinter: A War Without Soldiers” reads the promotional poster for the MSU Department of Theatre’s first production.
The irony of this title is that there is a soldier in this play — an actual soldier.
It will be the first college production for political science and theatre junior Jeff Jaeger, who is also an active member of the National Guard.
“It might have had a little to do with the casting process. But yes, I do play a soldier in the play as well,” Jaeger said.
Even being a soldier in real life, Jaeger said the role hadn’t come as easily as he expected.
“I thought that I would be better set up for it, have an easier starting point. He’s got a lot of problems that I’ve only talked to other soldiers about. I’ve known soldiers that have some of the problems that we address,” Jaeger said.
“It’s really difficult, not only trying to figure out what that might be like for me, but at the same time just dealing with issues that are very close to our professional community.”
Jaeger, who is in his sixth year acting, is still learning a lot by being in such a professional environment.
“I’ve learned a lot about stage combat. It gets pretty violent and I can’t say that my character is lovable by any means. He’s quite despicable, actually,” Jaeger said.
While Jaeger plays a soldier in Midwinter, the play actually focuses on the people who have to live in the aftereffects of war, rather than those who are fighting in the war.
Midwinter will run in the Auditorium Arena Theatre at 8 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5.
