The Man is played by Edmund Stapleton in Morris Panych’s “7 Stories.” The play opens Wednesday at Memorial University’s Reid Theatre. — Submitted Photo

Edmund Stapleton is The Man. Playing the lead character in the upcoming production of Morris Panych's play "7 Stories," he could be seen before a rehearsal on Sunday, swinging from a hanging umbrella on the stage of Memorial University's Reid Theatre.

"7 Stories" is a production fuelled by the university English class, Producing the Play. The class is meant to teach students the tasks and creative challenges involved in putting up a professional theatre production.

The idea is simple: learn by doing.

The group has been assisted in its efforts on "7 Stories" by members of a sister class, The Physical Stage and Video Technique, who helped build the set for the show.

On Sunday, assistant props manager on "7 Stories" Justin Quann sat in the theatre's seats, watching The Man swinging on the set pre-rehearsal.

Quann said his personal interest in theatre is mainly in acting. Taking a class in producing a play, he said, was a way of expanding his understanding of the many other jobs that are involved in a theatre production.

"I decided to do this class to see what happened behind the scenes," Quann said.

The work, he said, was more than expected.

"To bring this to life, to put on the show, it actually took a lot of effort - a lot of people from actors to stage work," he said.

Erin Alexander, a class member and publicist for the show, agreed.

"It's way more work than I thought," she said. "But it's worth it."

Alexander is in the process of completeing a degree in drama and music, challenging herself by taking on the job of getting the word out on "7 Stories."

The play, she stated in her news release, is Canadian in origin and was first seen in 1989. A combination of comedy and contemplation, "7 Stories" has "The Man" standing in a precarious position on the seventh floor of a building, interacting with people from the building throughout the play.

"It's funny, but bends your mind at the same time," said Alexander.

Like the others, Austin did not want to give away too much of the story behind "7 Stories."

"It's a piece of art. Everyone can take something different from it."

One thing is certain: with the mentorship of director Brad Hodder of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and months of work put in, there will be nothing spared in the production.

The play runs Wednesday through Saturday at the Reid Theatre. All proceeds from the show will be donated to the Michelle Jackson Emerging Filmmakers' Fund.

afitzpatrick@thetelegram.com