Loving who you are and being yourself was the main theme in a performance by four cast members Wednesday.

The theatre department performed “The Shape of Things,” a play to show how far someone is willing to go for love.

The play tells the story of Adam, a shy and self-conscious student on a small college campus in the Midwest, and his transformation at the request of Evelyn, an intense artist.

Throughout the play, Evelyn encourages Adam to change himself in order to test just how far she could transform him. She even suggested Adam gets a nose job, which he does.

At one point in the play, Adam says, “You are dangerously close to owning me.”

Adam’s relationship with Evelyn tests Adam’s connection with his other friends, Jenny and Phillip.

Adam transforms at Evelyn’s request by changing his diet, working out and getting rid of a coat that he refused to be without until Evelyn convinced Adam to get rid of it.

In the play Phillip said to Adam, “I just hope next time I pass you, I recognize you.”

The play showed audience members just how far a man will go to keep the woman he loves, by even breaking his relationships with his friends.

Molly Manhart, a senior theatre arts major, who played Evelyn, said she thought the play sent a message to be an individual.

“I think you should really love yourself and be aware that you are your own person and others opinions shouldn’t change that,” Manhart said.

The play shows the series of trials that Evelyn puts Adam through and shows his transformation from a shy student to a different person.

Jayce Vickers, a senior theatre arts major, said throughout the play he kept thinking the character Evelyn was wrong in her actions and how she treated Adam.

“I disagreed with everything that she says in the play,” Vickers said. “The whole show I’m just arguing with her in my head going ‘No, you’re wrong!'”

Kristie Kastl, a freshman English major, said she also disagreed with Evelyn.

“I was on Adam’s side the whole time, even at the beginning before we know Evelyn is playing them all,” Kastl said. “I still didn’t like her.”

Jeff Tangeman, the director of “The Shape of Things,” said the play does use adult language and scenes.

“It explores some adult things,” Tangeman said. “The thing that works for me is that it is all in the context of the play. None of it is for shock value.”

Tangeman said he thought the performance went really well.

“There were a few areas that the cast can work on,” Tangeman said. “But if experience holds true, I think they will get better and better.”

Manhart said the audience was something the cast has to adjust to.

“I didn’t expect as many laughs as we got,” Manhart said. “I will be able to expect that in the other shows.”

Manhart said she is excited for the other shows.

“I like working with the cast, we’ve become good friends,” Manhart said. “We just have great relationships.”

Manhart said she enjoyed playing her character.

“Evelyn is nothing like me, so it was fun diving in and playing this character,” Manhart said. “I get to be a different person every night.”

The cast also includes: Vince Dill as Adam, Rachael Sapp as Jenny; and Jake Cole as Phillip.

Manhart said the cast tried to make the play new.

“We have to keep it fresh every night so the audience can connect with the characters,” Manhart said. “It’s very character centralized and the audience can relate to them.”

“The Shape of Things” will also be shown today, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Black Box of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

Admission to the play is $5 for Eastern students, $10 for employees and people 62 and older, and $12 for general admission.

Manhart said she cannot wait for the rest of the shows.

“I’m just looking forward to sharing theatre with Eastern and our families,” Manhart said.

Samantha McDaniel can be reached at 581-2812 or slmcdaniel@eiu.edu.