Moliere's Comedy on Stage at USU
Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts’ first theater production of the season, The Learned Ladies, hits the Caine Lyric Theatre stage Sept. 24-28 at 7:30 p.m.
“This comedy by Molière is rather sly,” said Leslie Brott, professor in the Department of Theatre Arts and production director. “You receive a lesson in ethics and morality from what seems like a frothy bit of entertainment.”
Written by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, The Learned Ladies is the story of Henriette and Clitandre — two young lovers who want to get married. There’s only one problem — Henriette’s family. Her mother, aunt and older sister are obsessed with becoming cultured ladies and are set on Henriette marrying their paragon, “scholar” and mediocre poet Trissotin. Audiences can watch as two lovers navigate the dangerous waters of culture and family relations.
Originally written in French, the show was translated into English verse by Richard Wilbur, a poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for his work Things of This World. All dialogue in the show is spoken in rhyming couplets.
“The rhyming verse presents one of the most significant performance challenges an actor can face,” said Brott. “Though the actors in the cast are completely new to this neoclassical dramatic form, we’ve made significant progress.”
The Learned Ladies is showing Sept. 24-28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Caine Lyric Theatre, located at 28 W. Center Street in downtown Logan. In addition to the evening performance, a 2 p.m. matinee is Saturday, Sept. 28. Tickets are $13 adults, $10 seniors and youth, $8 USU faculty and staff and free for USU students with ID. For more information or tickets, contact the Caine College of the Arts Box Office in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-8022, or see the college’s Production Services website.
Related links:
USU Theatre Arts Department
USU’s Caine College of the Arts
Writer: Kara Rindlisbacher, 435-797-9203, kara.rindlisbacher@usu.edu
Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu
The stage production "The Learned Ladies" is presented by the Theatre Arts Department at Utah State University Sept. 24-28, 7:30 p.m., Caine Lyric Theatre, 28 W. Center, Logan. There is a 2 p.m. matinee Sept. 28.
TOPICS
Lyric Theatre 96storiesSHARE
Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page.
