On Nov. 13-19, the Clemson Players opened their second performance and first musical of the school year, “Now. Here. This.”

This production was performed in the Bellamy Theatre, providing an intimate setting. The audience surrounded all four sides of the stage that resided in the middle.

The theme of the production was centered around space and time, and the details in the theatre automatically transported the audience into an out-of-this-world experience. There were posters about space and time, as well as glow-in-the-dark stars placed throughout the theatre, adding a galactic touch.

The stage consisted of a small runway that had a podium painted to fit the theme of the production, as well as a rotating disk in the middle of the stage, allowing the actors to perform for the entire audience.

With the cast being so small, there were no distinct roles in this performance. It was a story being told by different musical numbers. In some musicals, this can be a disadvantage, but the actors did an amazing job in each musical number, harmonizing with each other beautifully. Each actor put so much passion into each performance, making it incredibly fun to watch.

Each actor wore neutral clothing, allowing them to add a jacket or extra shirt, depending on the scene that they were performing next. While the costumes were not extravagant, they were perfect for the performance, allowing for all of the focus to be on the actors and the music.

The choreography and blocking were also strong points of the performance. Since there were audience members on all sides of the performance, the actors were intentional in engaging the audience.

The Clemson Players did an amazing job with the musical numbers, choreography, set design and costumes; however, I found the plot hard to follow. Regardless, the actors’ performances shined on, and I am looking forward to what they will perform next year.