Campbell Play Explores The ‘Dartmouth Murders’

Campbell Play Explores The ‘Dartmouth Murders’

Marabo Productions of Burlington has announced the Vermont premier of “Dreamtime” by former Randolph resident Maura Campbell.

“Dreamtime” was presented last year as a staged reading at Champlain College in preparation for its premier last May in Virginia where it was a critical success.

The play is a fictional adaptation of the double murder of Half and Susanne Zantop by Chelsea teenagers Robert Tulloch and James Parker.

In January 2001, the murders of the two Dartmouth professors and the subsequent arrests and convictions of two boys from a small Vermont town shocked the nation. “Dreamtime” is a fictional exploration of 17-year-old Noah’s disturbed mind as his best friend, Willy, convinces him to rob and murder in order to finance their trip to Australia.

Noah’s dream turns into a nightmare as the boys take a wild ride from Vermont to the Aboriginal outback trying to outrun guilt and responsibility. Only in the magical Australian desert where dreams begin, can Noah find redemption.

In real life the two Chelsea teens did dream of escaping to Australia with money they would steal from their victims, but both ended up serving long prison sentences.

“Dreamtime” opens Thursday, April 2, 2009, at 8 p.m. at the Waterfront Theatre in Burlington. Additional shows are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday April 3 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 4 at 2 p.m.

The cast includes Monica Callan, Mary Scripps, Clarke Jordan, Jordan Gullikison, Adam Langdon and Joey Behlendorf. Director Todd Ristau, head of the Playwright’s Lab at Hollins University, directs.

Tickets may be purchased through the Flynn Box Office by calling (802) 863-5966. For more information, please visit mauracampbellplaywright.com.

This is not Campbell’s first foray into recreating history through fictionalized drama. She has written two plays about the 1832 murder conviction of Rebecca Peake of East Randolph for the killing of her stepson Efrain.

One of those plays, "Self Evidence," won the Vermont Playwriting Award for 2005 and was produced again recently in Burlington.