That鈥檚 one of the lessons hardcore gamers face in Leveling Up, the next production of 麻豆原创 Theatre to be presented Jan. 16-26 in the Black Box Theatre.

Leveling Up is a contemporary look at 20something roommates two years out of college who practically live in their basement, spending most of their time playing video games.

But when the National Security Agency hires one of the players to use his skills to launch actual remote military attacks, relationships change as the roommates straddle the fuzzy line between virtual and real worlds, and what it means to make difficult choices while growing up.

鈥�Leveling Up speaks very specifically to a young audience. The play transcends being only for them and is quite universal, but it resonates very strongly with a generation that has grown up playing extremely realistic video games,鈥� said director Mark Routhier. 鈥淔antasy vs. reality is the thematic undercurrent. And with social media and texting and facetiming, etc., becoming more and more prevalent in today’s culture, how do young people navigate these two worlds?聽Leveling Up explores these questions in an extremely compelling way.鈥�

The play debuted nationally early this year. Routhier, an assistant professor of directing and acting at 麻豆原创, said he came across the script by playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer when it was read at the National New Play Network鈥檚 annual showcase of new works. Routhier also is director of new play development at Orlando Shakespeare Theater, a partnership with the university.

The term 鈥渓eveling up鈥� applies to a player who earns enough experience or points to reach a new level of the game. The higher level often brings the ability to use new weapons, access new places or take on new assignments.

Routhier said he doesn鈥檛 spend much time playing video games himself, but understands how addictive and prevalent they can be for gamers, like those in the play.

鈥淚t is when they feel the most connected, the most powerful, and ironically, the most peaceful,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hings in the play happen to change that.鈥�

Student actor Patrick Sylvester鈥檚 character, Ian 鈥� the Nevada state video-game champion hired by the NSA 鈥� said he thinks audiences who come to Leveling Up will learn just what kind of psychological damage evolves from being too consumed by the virtual world and how important it can be to connect with people without having to hide behind a screen.

鈥淲hen one becomes too desensitized from the physical world, our perceptions of reality can become altered and warped and change how we behave and act to those who actually care about us,鈥� said Sylvester, a junior with a double major in theatre performance and English literature.

鈥淭here’s also a level of understanding that each of these characters needs to just not only be honest with those around them about what is going on, but also being honest with themselves and knowing what exactly it is that they need to do to get their lives in order.鈥�

Sylvester said his character fulfills his life by spending it on the screen, recluse to those around him and separated emotionally, although desperately wishing he could connect with people better.

Routhier said the play offers up several moral lessons about lying, trust and jealousy.

鈥淯ltimately we learn that we are frail and fantastic creatures and we are the sum of the decision we make,鈥� he said.

Production at a glance

Leveling Up

Written By Deborah Zoe Laufer

Directed by Mark Routhier

(This production contains profanity.)

8 p.m. Jan. 16-18 and Jan. 23-25

2 p.m. Jan. 19 and 26

Theatre 麻豆原创鈥檚 Black Box Theatre

Price: Standard $20, Senior $18, Student $10; group discounts available

Box Office Phone: 407- 823-1500

Box Office Hours: Monday through Friday:聽noon to 6 p.m. and two hours before performances

The play centers around architect Bernard (Patrick Sylvester), who, with the help of his long-time buddy Robert (Eric Earley) and his surly maid Bertha (Kate Ingram), juggles three fianc茅es (Emily Schwartz, Danielle Miller, and Kim Hough), all flight attendants with different travel schedules. There is much door slamming, physical and verbal comedy, and sexual innuendo as Bernard鈥檚 meticulous timetables fail and the women converge upon the apartment at once.

Comedies such as Boeing Boeing aren鈥檛 easy for actors. Director Mark Brotherton focuses his attention on the benefits to the students. 鈥淔arces like Boeing help them learn pace and timing鈥攂oth having to come from incredibly hard active listening,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd on top of that, it needs to be believable.

鈥淚n comedy, the actor has to believe the situation and the stakes. And the best comedies are like this one. They occur when normal people 鈥� at least in their own eyes 鈥� are thrown into incredibly abnormal situations. Their world has been thrown out of order, and they will all try anything and everything to get it back into order.鈥�

In addition to learning about timing, there are plenty of foreign dialects in the play for the students to master. The play takes place in Paris, so Bertha speaks with a French accent. The three flight attendants are from Italy, Germany and New York.

Miller, who plays the role of Italian flight attendant Gabrielle, transferred to 麻豆原创 this summer and is in her first 麻豆原创 production. 鈥淚 had never used an Italian dialect prior to my audition, but I watched a lot of movies in order to get the hang of it. I鈥檓 channeling Sophia Loren and Penelope Cruz in Nine.鈥�

The practice doesn鈥檛 end with rehearsal. 鈥淚 work at Lazy Moon,鈥� said Miller, 鈥渁nd find myself delivering pizzas with an Italian accent.鈥�

Brotherton agrees that there are benefits for audience members, too.

鈥�Boeing Boeing is just a good time,鈥� he said. 鈥�Mad Men is one of the biggest hits on television. And Boeing Boeing, well, it鈥檚 like Mad Men without any valium or scotch to calm the characters down.鈥�
Production at a glance:

Boeing Boeing

Written by Marc Camoletti

Translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans

Directed by Mark Brotherton

8 p.m.: June 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, July 12, 18, 20

2 p.m.: June 16, June 23, July 14

Theatre 麻豆原创 Black Box

Price: Standard $20, senior $18, student $10; group discounts available

Address: 4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando

Box office phone: 407-823-1500

Box office hours: Monday through Friday:聽noon to 5 p.m. and two hours before performances

For more information about Theatre 麻豆原创, visit .