Event
A Company of Wayward Saints by George Herman
Write Act Repertory begins its Mainstage 2008 Series
with A Company of Wayward Saints
This scripted Commedia dell'arte production, mocks hierarchical society and parodies different social stereotypes which still holds modern-day relevance.
Write Act Repertory and Producing and Associate Artistic Directors John Lant and Joe McClean proudly announce the production of A Company of Wayward Saints as the first show of Write Act Repertory Companys Mainstage 2008 Series.
This production weaves Commedia dell'arte to exaggerations beyond naturalistic theatrical convention with its crude and often slapstick irreverent comedy, mirroring commedias exaggerated nature. This plays deft mixture will provide any audience member with a fast-paced and richly enjoyable theatrical experience.
Directed by Joe McClean, Written by George Herman, Masks Designed by Wendy Gough Soroka and Assistant Direction by Rich Wong, this production will have a 7-week engagement at the Write Act Repertory Theatre with Previews Friday June 20th & Saturday June 21st, 2008 @ 8:00pm. Officially Opened; Thursdays, June 26th, 2008 through Saturdays, August 2nd, 2008 @ 8:00pm, with Sunday Performances beginning July 13th through August 3rd, 2008 at 5:00pm. (There will be no Sunday performances before July 13th and no performances of any dates during July 4th weekend)
George Herman's A Company of Wayward Saints follows a nomadic troupe of amateur dramatists who attempt to put on The History of Man in a last ditch attempt to buy their way back home by gaining the patronage of a wealthy Duke. But to a group of actors far too selfish, self-important and self-indulgent to work together this proves to be quite a challenge, one they may never overcome. Their production parodies various events in the history of man, from Adam and Eve to the assassination of Caesar, before falling out and falling apart as their squabbles endanger their ability to return home. They overcome their differences coming back together to focus on the more insightful aspects of human life as they explore 'The History of A Man' to the delight of the Duke and the audience, alike, thus ensuring a passage of another type of journey into the enrichment of their souls.
In our production, we didn't want to lose the historical value of Commedia dell'arte, understanding that this is a play about actors, real people, who play comedians, on top of that is their commedia archetype states Director Joe McClean.
These archetypes have been performed for hundreds of years but are most recognizable to a modern audience in roles like Groucho Marx, playing the archetype of Harlequin, Ginger from Gilligan's Island, playing an aspect of Ruffiana, and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, very much playing a Capitano.
Commedia dell'arte, which dates back to 16th century Venetian society, is traditionally performed in masks, with each stock character representing different social stereotypes, including the learned doctor who knows everything and nothing, to the worldly tart who flirts incessantly with the audience, with the army, the law and the clergy all being ridiculed by its parody of social comment. Its influences on todays society are profound too, from Punch and Judy, the Circus to the very popular Blackadder, mocking society in a very sophisticated fashion of modern commedia dellarte.
Hermans play A Company of Wayward Saints won the McKnight Foundation Humanities Award in Drama in 1963, and has remained in print for more than 35 years. More than 100 of his 132 radio, TV and stage plays have been produced by 38 universities, several regional and semiprofessional theaters, in all 50 states and Canada, New Zealand, Brazil, the Virgin Islands, Australia, Germany, Egypt and Senegal, probably accounting for a large part of world unrest.
The Dramatist Personae consist of Harlequin (manager), Pantalone (the old man), Tristano (the lover), Isabella (the sweetheart), Colombine (the nag), Scapino (the acrobat), Dottore (the learned), Capitano (the warrior) and Ruffiana (the tart), played by Write Act Rep Actor members Candace Brown, Tchia Casselle, Beth Fisher, Jonathan Harrison, Samm Hill, Marc McHone, Chas Mitchell, Andrew Mueller, Aurora Nibley, Sarju Patel, Andrea Pandazedes, Jason Parsons, Justin Radford, Joseph Ruzer, Jack Seal, Sean Spann, Sarah Yahr Tucker and Jack Zullo.
A Company of Wayward Saints launches in the beautifully rebuilt Write Act Repertory Theatre on the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church campus, located at 6128 Yucca Avenue in Hollywood, two blocks east of the famous Capitol Records building near Gower and Franklin off the 101 Freeway. Free ample parking is located one block away in the lower church parking lot at 6125 Carlos Avenue. The theatre, which features an outdoor patio reception area, is both air-conditioned and heated. Seating is limited and reservations are greatly suggested.
Write Act Rep will continue during the summer & fall season with the inaugural installment of our next series Best In Show, a competition of writing and acting, followed by the Freeway 2008 Series, a submission based series featuring Greater Los Angeles Playwrights not in Write Act Rep beginning in September 2008.
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LocationWrite Act Rep Theatre
6128 Yucca Ave
Hollywood, CA 90028
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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