You might be bored, confused or uncomfortable.

That's the point.

UW-Eau Claire is performing two one-act plays by Eugene Ionesco. The Romanian playwright is considered the father of theater of the absurd.

"It's theater that challenges you to think," director Jennifer Chapman said. "The plays challenge our expectations of theater as an art form."

The music and theater arts department will present "The Bald Soprano" and "The Lesson." The plays open tonight in Kjer Theatre on lower campus.

In "The Bald Soprano," two middle-class British couples meet for a dinner date. The couples are joined by a maid and a fire captain obsessed with extinguishing fires.

"I have very long, pointless stories, but I seem to find them most entertaining," said senior Cameron Cylkowski, who plays the fire captain.

Characters engage in senseless conversations. At one point, a couple apparently forget they're married.

"In this show, it's making fun of having to have a plot - but there isn't one," said freshman Sami Johnson, who plays the maid.

Although events might seem random, "The Bald Soprano" illustrates breakdowns in communication, Chapman said.

"These two plays examine how humanity fails to express meaning through language," she said. "We fail to form meaningful relationships."

"The Lesson" also portrays miscommunication. A professor attempts to teach an indecipherable subject to a young student.

"It makes sense to him, but to anybody else they would be lost," said senior Eddie Neve, who plays the professor.

The student becomes physically ill as she fails to comprehend the material. Meanwhile, the professor becomes enraged.

The plays' unconventional formats have required actors to expand their techniques, they said.

"This play has been different from every other character that I've played before," Neve said. "It's definitely a different approach. It's exhausting. It takes a lot of concentration."

Espe can be reached at 833-9206, 800-236-7077 or troy.espe@ecpc.com.

If You Go

What: "The Bald Soprano" and "The Lesson," presented by the UW-Eau Claire music and theater arts department.

When: 7:30 p.m. today through Saturday and Dec. 9-12; 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Kjer Theatre, UW-Eau Claire.

Tickets: $10, public; $8, senior citizens and UW-Eau Claire staff; $6, children; $2.50, UW-Eau Claire students.

Information: 836-3727 or 800-949-8932.

Playbill

Cast

Mr. Smith: Joshua Barnard.

Mrs. Smith and the student: Siri Brobst.

Fire chief: Cameron Cylkowski.

Mrs. Martin: Alicia Homan.

Mary and the maid: Sami Johnson.

Mr. Martin: Matt Tatone.

Professor: Eddie Neve.

Crew

Director: Jennifer Chapman.

Scenic and lighting designer: Kevin Gawley.

Costume designer: Mallory Prucha Rishoi.

n "The Bald Soprano" and "The Lesson" contain some strong language and violence.