NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

11/06/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES- Jeunee Fryer is getting a good idea of what acting is all about in her first role at Northwestern State University.

Fryer, a sophomore from Theriot, has the role of Eva in "The Rimers of Eldritch" which will be presented by the Northwestern Theatre Nov. 13-16 and 19-21 in Theatre West.

"The Rimers of Eldritch," was written by Lanford Wilson. In the play, a man has been murdered and the mystery is who murdered him and what were the circumstances. To solve the mystery, the playwright looks at the inside and the outside of a small town. "The Rimers of Eldritch" won the prestigious Vernon Rice Award and was an immediate off-Broadway success.

Fryer's character, Eva, is a teenager who is ignored by the community because of a disability. Her only friend is Robert, played by Bryan Lee of Cochran, Ga.

"Nobody likes her because she is disabled, so she keeps to herself," said Fryer. "They ignore her and call her names and talk about the way she looks. Her only friend is Robert who is rejected also."

Fryer says the friendship with Robert is the only thing that brings happiness to Eva.

"She plays in the dirt and in the woods and gets to be childish," said Fryer. "Eva also likes to make Robert mad, but when he leaves she wants him back."

Even her home is no refuge for Eva, who must deal with a mother who offers her no support.

"Eva is young and can't understand why no one will interact with her," said Fryer. "She tries to talk to her mom, but all her mom does is accuse her of things that aren't real."

Eva's difficult life gets even harder when she is raped.

"After Eva is raped, she doesn't even like Robert," says Fryer. "She doesn't say anything. She just sits there."

Fryer, a three-sport athlete at Terrebonne High School in Houma, has little to draw on personally in playing Eva.

"I grew up in a small town as Eva did, but I never regretted it. I really have to get into character to play this emotionally torn up little girl," she said. "I want to be happy and loud and Eva isn't like that except when she is with Robert before the rape."

Fryer, an early childhood education major, was attracted to Northwestern's education program because of its strong reputation. Once she learned about the well-regarded theatre program, Fryer decided to get involved.

"I want to be an actress, but I know that only a small percentage of people make it," said Fryer. "Having an education degree will give me something to fall back on. I enjoy being with the children and bringing together theatre and education could be interesting and fun."

Fryer didn't participate in theatre in high school, but did some community theatre for children. She was able to earn a major part in "The Rimers of Eldritch" while taking her first theatre classes at NSU.

"I didn't take any theatre classes my freshman year, then I began taking two classes. I met everyone in the program and decided to audition," she said. "My self-esteem went sky high when I got the part. I felt good inside."

Fryer's first name, Jeunee, is French for Johnny, reflecting her French, Cajun and Native American.

"My name gets mispronounced all the time, but it doesn't get me upset," said Fryer. "When teachers call the roll on the first day of class, I know when they get to me because they always look at my name and stop. I just raise my hand and pronounce it for them."

Tickets for "The Rimers of Eldritch" are $5. Admission is free for Northwestern students. For ticket information, call (318) 357-5744.

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