Umisha KC
Editor

“Hell is other people,” is perhaps one of the most famously quoted sayings by Jean Paul Sartre. As a self-declared introvert I have often quoted this myself. However, it was not until one of the characters in The W’s production of “No Exit” shouted these words with pure frustration (and equal part epiphany), I understood what Sartre truly meant.

Directed by Kathy Newman, assistant professor of theatre at The W, and starring Drew Nunley, Brittany Bigott, Abigail McCreary and Payton Bellew, the Department of Theatre at The W put on a brilliant rendition of Sartre’s existential play from Nov. 7-9 in the Black Box Theatre. Upon finding themselves in a hell that is so far from what each imagined, the three characters in Sartre’s “No Exit” navigated their time in the afterlife as the audience watched intently.

Hell is not fire and brimstone in this play. It is a tackily decorated drawing room shared with two other strangers, and a bellboy so awful you could say - pardon my corniness - he came straight from hell.

The thrust theatre stage and close proximity to the characters meant the audience could see each expression on the characters’ faces as they dearly longed for their life before death away from the other two strangers.

All three characters banished to hell first won the audience’s heart and then promptly shocked them with their confessions on why they were there in the first place. The audience gasped in unison as McCreary confessed as Estelle about what she did back when she was alive. All four actors performed wonderfully, but Nunley shone as Cradeau with his intense delivery.

Other notable parts of the production were the set, the sound design and the lighting design. All three parts, along with the actors’ brilliant performances, came together wonderfully to bring Sartre’s hell alive right here at The W.