Scarlet Masque Theatre Journal New Beginnings and Fond Farewells Vol. 1 | Page 128
Journal Contributor Nathan Muha ‘18 conducts the interview.
Muha : We’re starting right at the beginning.
Watson : I hope they pay you well.
[Both Laugh]
Muha : The first play you directed at Wabash College was “R.U.R”, and for readers that don’t
know, that it is a science fiction drama about robots overthrowing man to create a new humanity
and then the show ends with the last living human bequeathing the roles of a new Adam and Eve
into two robots who have developed human feelings.
Watson: Exactly.
Muha: Right. And so the show begins with change and ends with hope How does that sort of
play into yourself and the department as you start to think about the beginning of your
retirement?
Watson: Oh, Nathan that’s such a brilliant question. Uh, I actually thought you were gonna ask
me about “R.U.R” and I was gonna have to really wrap my memories to try to recall exactly
what went on in that play. Well, you know since you formed it that way. As I recall the ending,
the new Adam and Eve are robots with new and improved humanity. So, I guess you might say
that what I will leave behind is a new and improved humanity. At least, I’m sure that's what my
colleagues want it to be. They probably would sign on to the new and improved humanity of the
theatre faculty. So, that takes care of the second part of your question. The first part of your
question was about change. How do you want? Say that to me again. How do you want me to
think about that?
Muha: Basically, I was just saying that it begins with change and ends with hope, and how does
that feeling of change play into your own feelings about yourself, the department, and the
college sort of in general?
Watson: Again that’s such a brilliant question. I’m not sure I can do it great justice over a
cheese sandwich and some fruit here. But you know I think trying to imagine, see, remember my
career at the college of 36 years, and certainly the adventure of entering into that as a
considerably younger man, it was very much about change. Very much a change for Jamie,and
for myself, and for our 6 week old baby who now is 36.