Life on the frontier, where survival was a constant struggle and family a person’s only possession, had more than its fair share of hardships, especially for women.

The Syracuse University Drama Department’s production of the musical ‘Quilters,’ which finished its run April 7, presented a small piece of American history. Scenes filled with both laughter and sorrow provided an intimate view into the struggles of womanhood that still hold today.

The joyful musical invites the audience into the life of Sarah, a pioneer woman and master quilter. Now in her old age, Sarah wants to leave her legacy behind, particularly for her daughters. She does this through an intricate quilt made of multiple squares, each representing different parts of her long, eventful life. With each addition of a new square, the audience is taken back to the story behind it.

Sarah and her daughters act out each milestone of Sarah’s life on the open frontier. At times, the stories are a bit difficult to keep track of because the characters, with the exception of Sarah, change so frequently. But the cast members’ convincing portrayals of so many different characters is a testament to remarkable acting.

The demanding role of Sarah was played perfectly by Erin Nishimura, a junior musical theater major from Fort Worth, Texas. A powerful presence onstage, she added just the right amount of nostalgia to that character that would be anyone’s ideal grandmother. She told each story with a balance of excitement and solemnity, making her performance both captivating and believable.

Other standout actors included Katie Anderson, a sophomore musical theater major from Melbourne, Fla., and Eve Steuer, a sophomore musical major from Long Island, N.Y. Both looked extremely natural, effortlessly playing two of Sarah’s daughters.

Sarah’s home on the frontier is the production’s only set. ‘It’s not the end of the world, but you can see it from here,’ Sarah describes. This simple set convincingly portrays the wide lonely frontier that was the quilters’ home. Each piece of the set, made with wood, had no embellishments. Wooden platforms, a bare wooden tree, a giant wagon wheel and the exterior of a humble log cabin are the only major set pieces. The simple set forces viewers to use their imagination to visualize the stories.

The period costumes fit the motif of the set. Each actress wore only one costume, making it a bit more confusing to keep track of the ever-changing characters. The angelic voices of the talented actresses blended well with the orchestra. The various songs fit with the theme of the musical and helped break up the long production.

The production is a bit lengthy. If not for the first-class acting, complemented by the beautiful singing, it would be difficult to get through. The content won’t appeal to everyone. The musical relates well to women, touching on topics about every aspect of life, like childbirth and motherhood. Men would likely find it difficult to connect with the story or its characters. For those who can understand the meaning in the musical, it is sweet with just a touch of nostalgia.

bihumper@syr.edu

Published on April 11, 2012 at 12:00 pm