De Koffer plays Dr. Seuss

“You have brains in your head, and feet in your shoes, shoes, shooooes”. The students of drama club De Koffer are rehearsing their show about the book ‘The Places You’ll Go’ by Dr. Seuss on location. They invited Andrew Cartwright to practice their pronunciation.

In a normal looking building in the center of Tilburg, there is an empty floor. Normally no one comes there, but tonight it is the location of the rehearsal of  drama club De Koffer (in English: The Suitcase).  On a dusty, empty floor, with brooms  in the corner, two construction lamps light a wall. Suddenly 7 actors act out their version of ‘The Places You’ll Go’, by author Dr. Seuss. Using the light of the lamps, they create shadows on the walls, but they will also jump, run and dance in the show.  According to Ben Kraaijeveld, one of the actors, the show is about the ups and downs of life. Using crazy and different characters they made it in to a freak show.  A freak show on location.

The rehearsal location will also be the location of the actual show during the Lentekoorts (Springfever) on the 27th, 28th of April and the 1st of May. The stage director, Lisah Baert, called several construction companies to arrange a location. Fortunately, she was able to get the location in the Stationstraat, in the middle of Tilburg.  They can use the floor for free in exchange for a theatracical performance specially made for the company.

The play will last more than an hour and be entirely in English. Since all the actors are Dutch some have a more English accent, and others a more American one. Luckily Andrew Cartwright, who teaches English at the Language Center, came to help with their pronunciation. As he sat on the only chair in the room, he helped to speak the words of the script. Apparently the word ‘shoes’ was a though one, because the actors repeated it a lot.  “We should pronounce it, like snooze!”, one said.

As far as Lisah Baert can remember no show by De Koffer was ever done in English before. Next semester they are also doing a show in English and they are looking for international students who want to join them.

You can see pictures of the rehearsal below.
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