Winner of both the Olivier and the Tony Awards for Best Play, this 2008 work from the French playwright Yasmina Reza is known as “a comedy of manners…without the manners.” The 90-minute piece follows two pairs of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park. They meet to attempt to discuss the matter in a civilized manner; however, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish themselves, and everything devolves into hilarious chaos.
Originally written in 1669, Molière’s classic comedy of manners finds the con man and pious imposter, Tartuffe, magnificently winning over the respect and devotion of Orgon, a wealthy Parisian merchant. Ridiculousness ensues as Tartuffe tries to marry Orgon’s daughter, seduce his wife and abscond all his property. Tartuffe nearly succeeds before an emissary from King Louis XIV arrives in time to intervene. Orgon and his family are saved, and Tartuffe is hauled off to jail. Molière mercilessly examines the evil men commit under the guise of religious fervor and the dangers that await those who blindly believe despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Richard Wilbur’s award-winning rhymed couplet translation is a “rollicking evening of grace and fun , , , , an astonishingly delightful romp.”
Winner of the Olivier Award for best drama in 1992, Ariel Dorfman’s relentless and explosively provocative drama is set in a South American country that recently returned to democratic rule after years of a totalitarian regime. Geraldo Escobar has just been appointed head of a commission investigating crimes of the former regime when his car breaks down. He and his wife, Paulina, are picked up by the seemingly good samaritan Dr. Roberto Miranda. Paulina, however, eerily recognizes the doctor as the man who raped and tortured her in a military detention center years ago. Death and the Maiden explores the dark side of humanity—one in which no one can be trusted, everyone is implicated and justice itself becomes a hopeless dream. The London Times called it a “terrifying moral thriller” and Mel Gussow described it as “suspenseful . . . riveting . . . and movingly personal.” Death and the Maiden deals with mature subject matter.
Nathan Detroit bets high-rolling gambler Sky Masterson that Sky cannot persuade Save-A-Soul Missionary Sister Sarah Brown to accompany him on a trip to Cuba. While Sky works his charms on a wary Sarah, Nathan is doing his best to stay outside the matrimonial clutches of his long-suffering fiancée, Miss Adelaide. "Guys and Dolls" is a fable about what happens to gambling men and the women who long to tame them. Set in the colorful world of New York City in the mid 20th century, the romantic and funny "Guys And Dolls" is populated with gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls and scantily clad showgirls. Winner of 8 Tony Awards, this beloved musical of the Golden Age with well known songs such as “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ The Boat” is an American classic.
Student directors, designers, and actors show off their talents in this always enjoyable and diverse evening of theatre.