Amy Elizabeth Mathews, Michael Moreno, seated, and Jonathan Visser star in the Clarence Brown Theatre production of “The Flu Season.” Performances take place in the Clarence Brown’s Lab Theatre.

"The Flu Season," playing Oct. 8-18 at the Clarence Brown's Theatre's Lab Theatre, focuses not on seasonal germs but the human condition.

The second play in the Clarence Brown's 2009-10 season is directed by visiting artist Edward Morgan. It is really a "story within a story," he said.

First there's the story set in a psychiatric treatment facility. Two patients, called simply Man and Woman, fall in love. Third-year University of Tennessee master's of fine arts candidate Michael Moreno is Man; third-year graduate student Amy Elizabeth Mathews plays Woman.

The pair, whose relationship goes through highs and eventual lows, are two of eight characters in this story. There's also a doctor played by community actor Steve Fitchpatrick and a nurse portrayed by third-year MFA student Cycerli Ash. Morgan added two nonspeaking roles, orderlies played by students Sara Anderson and Matthew Charles Russell Badham.

This reluctant love story is framed by another story that evolves through the words and actions of two narrators called Prologue and Epilogue. At this level, "Flu Season" is a story about creativity and how difficult it is to write a play.

Gradually the stories meld into each other as the story between Prologue and Epilogue "sort of upstages the other story," Morgan said.

"It's a very unique play. I've never directed anything like it," said Morgan.

The freelance director, teacher and writer has worked at various universities and regional theaters. He's past associate artistic director at Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, where he directed 30 plays.

"Under all the verbal flash there's a cool, steady gaze on things that are common to us all," he said. "We all desire happy endings. It's that part of the human condition."

The character Prologue, played by third-year graduate student Jonathan Visser, "is the voice of romance, of optimism, of wanting everything to be wonderful," Morgan said. Epilogue, portrayed by third-year MFA student Matthew Bassett, sees a very different ending for Prologue's story.

"Flu Season" also deals with how words don't always fit reality.

"It's about the process and difficulty of creating a play. And the difficulty of life turning out and relationships turning out the way they do," said the director.

While "Flu Season" includes adult themes and tragedy, Morgan said it's not "a downer." The romance between Man and Woman may end, but another sparks between the doctor and nurse. There is also "quite a bit of comedy in it."

"It is the kind of play that people will walk away and talk about."

Amy McRary may be reached at 865-342-6437.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel
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