Take a trip back in time to the 1920s with the first mainstage production of the year.

This weekend, the School of Theatre and Dance will present Theophilus North 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the O’Connell Theatre in the Stevens Building.

Based on the last novel by Thorton Wilder, the seven-member play is set in the spring of 1926 and follows a thirty-year-old man who goes “off to conquer the world”. He quits his job to travel the world, but ends up in Rhode Island working as a private reader, tennis instructor, and French tutor. He meets people along the way who drastically alter his journey, forcing him to reconsider his status in the world.

“Theophilus North is looking back on his life, collecting stories,” said Terry McClellan, senior designer. “[The play is about] people and relationships, and the moment when people come together.”

Lighting and costumes helped to make the play successful. Because Theophilus North is set in the ‘20s, Melanie Parks tried to give the play a standard 1920s-theme with light-colored dresses and suits.

Josh Anderson directs the cast, which includes Ben Park, Joel Moses, C. Clayton Blackwell, Christine Maturo, Joe Mikieta, Cara Liebert, and Jaime Mire.

One of the challenges the production faced was having some members of the cast take on two or three roles, but they did so successfully.

Theophilus North drew the audience in right at the beginning because it started out with something everyone can relate to. Everyone, at some point in their life, feels as though there has to be something else out there: something more they want to do in their life.

“Isn’t there someplace I should be? What have I seen?” character Theophilus North wonders half-way through the play.

The play shows the audience pieces of Theophilus North’s past memories. Though this was a bit confusing at times, the new and different approach became enjoyable by the end of the play.

In the last scene, Theophilus North recognizes the people around him as his friends and finally feels at peace with the world.

“I don’t need to be in Hong Kong [or anyplace else]… to belong to the world,” the character said.

Another enjoyable aspect was the subtle humor of the show which – especially in scenes between Dr. Bosworth and Theophilus North – made the audience laugh. Theophilus North will run through October 2. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $8 for students.