Bailey Murphy, senior theatre arts major, took on multiple personalities this weekend.

Murphy played the villainous roles of a witch, a reporter and a wife in “Nasty SOBs.”

“Nasty SOBs: A Collection of Villains Despicable, Detestable, Vile, Depraved and Loathsome Yet Loveable” opened at the Village Theatre on Friday night.

The play was written and directed by Jerry Eisenhour.

“Nasty SOBs” is the story of eight actors who just finished performing a show. These actors then decide they want to play something they have not played before – and they all opt for a “darker” role.

“Play the villain you always wanted to play,” they told each other in the beginning of the play.

The actors follow out this plan by playing scenes from some famous productions, including “Treasure Island” and “Macbeth.”

Act One of the play focused mainly on villains. For this act, the meaner the villain, the better.

Act One included scenes from Doctor Faustus, Treasure Island, Night Must Fall, Macbeth, Dracula, Othello, Hadda Gabler and Imaginary Invalid.

Act Two changed the tone of “Nasty SOBs.” The second act featured comic villains and called for the lighter side of villainy. It included scenes from The Drunkard, Tartuffe, Chicago, Fashion and The Maltese Moroccan Goldfinch.

“It’s nice to play someone who is so different from who you are,” Murphy said. “There is a clear goal when playing a villain.”

In “Doctor Faustus,” she wanted Faustus’ soul for damnation. “Doctor Faustus” was about a scholar who sold his soul to the devil for power.

“Imaginary Invalid” had Murphy stealing her husband’s money. The story was about a rich older man marrying a younger woman.

“It was a more pleasant goal for the villain in ‘Imaginary Invalid,'” Murphy said.

Most of the portions of others’ plays were just acted out; however, “Dracula” was different.

Tim Tholl was the narrator for “Dracula,” and as he read, the story was performed before the audience.

For “Othello,” a character named Iago plays a villain. Iago told Othello his wife chose him and not Othello.

“For she had eyes, and she chose me Othello,” said Iago, played by Brian Aycock.

While the actors in “Nasty SOBs” had to portray many different characters, the actors appreciated the challenge – especially if the challenge entailed playing a villain.

While “Nasty SOBs” appears to be one play, it is actually parts of many.

“Some of my characters are the ‘bad guys’ and create the problems, and a couple of my other characters are the victims in their situation, who have yet to discover that they are a victim,” said Mariam Amr, freshman theater arts and communication disorders and sciences major.

Amr played John Hawkings in “Treasure Island” and Desdemona in “Othello.”

Eisenhour said there is a unique appeal to “Nasty SOBs.”

“It’s not just one play – it’s segments from many plays, so if people don’t like one segment, they’ll like another,” Eisenhour said.

Ashley Mefford can be reached at 581-7942 or at almefford@eiu.edu.

Cast Members of the EIU Production of Dirty SOB’s prepare for the show in the Green room of the Village Theatre on Sunday Afternoon. (Bryce Peake

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