The Michigan Times

Issue date: 2/1/10 Section: M2 (Arts & Entertainment)

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Murder mystery, spies, and three love stories are just the beginning when it comes to “Red Herring,” the third installment of the 2009–10 season for the Department of Theatre and Dance. Set during the McCarthy era, “Red Herring,” written by Michael Hollinger, shows at the UM-Flint Theatre Feb 12–21.

“It’s very, very funny,” said William Irwin, director and associate professor of musical theatre. “It’s a good piece that provides the classic elements of comedy, like mistaken identity.”

“I really can’t pick a favorite moment of the show,” said actor TJ Corbett. “There’s cute little romantic moments, there’s touching moments, little farcical moments, light comedy and dark comedy.”

The show is also “very quick-paced,” according to Corbett, and part of this is due to the 25 different locations that will be shown on stage. As a result, a slip stage, or movable stage pieces on tracks, was built to help with the quick scene changes.

“A slip stage helps us bring different locals in without seeing crew members or without having to go to a black out,” Irwin said.

“I honestly think it’s one of the coolest ideas ever,” said Corbett about working with the slip stage. At the same time, the actors must also move quickly with the scene changes.

Each actor plays between two and four characters and must undergo fast costume changes. Likewise, one of the challenges of playing multiple characters is switching between each of them and making each character very distinct, according to Corbett.

“The costumes will help of course, but it’s making it so the audience isn’t just like, ‘oh look they’re wearing a different costume’,” Corbett said.

Red Herring first premiered in Pennsylvania in 2000 and has since become a popular show, according to Irwin.

“It’s an entertaining night in the theatre…and it’s the cheapest ticket in town,” Irwin said.

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