14
THE SEAHAWK/FEBRUARY 2 2, 2DD1
French Aristocracy brought to life in “The Rehearsal”
Cassandra Brattdn
STAFF Writer
University Theatre presents Jean
Anouilh’s “The Rehearsal,” a multi-fac
eted play, directed by renowned UNCW
professor, Terry Rogers.
The play takes place in 1950s era
France in the Chateau de Ferbroques.
The Count, played by senior Matt Lutz,
has married the Countess, played by se
nior Diana Stewart, for her substantial
wealth. Similarly, the Countess has
married the Count in order to gain a re
spectable title. This marriage of conve
nience invites both the Count and
Countess to have extramarital affairs to
appease their passionate appetites. The
Count is having an affair with Hortensia,
played by senior Daisy Talley, while the
Countess is having an affair with
Villebosse, played by junior Lloyd
Galyon.
Much to the disappointment of the
Count and Countess, they inherit twelve
orphans from the Count’s late Aunt.
Concerned only with public opinion, the
Count and Countess grudgingly decide
to host a grand charity ball to “welcome”
the orphanage to society. A large part
of the charity ball’s entertainment in
cludes the performance of an 1 S'*" cen
tury period play entitled, “The Double
Inconstancy” by Marivaux. Ironically,
the play in which they choose to per
form parallels the characters’ own lives.
Lucile, played by senior Janna Murray,
is the goddaughter of the Countess’ law
yer, played by senior Garrett Droege.
She is hired to look after the children,
but soon, much to the disapproving and
jealous eye of the Countess, the Count
lusts after her.
Other brilliant characters that will
grace the stage include Hero, played by
junior Greg Rapoza. Hero is an old
friend of the Count who cannot seem to
drink away his past. Matt Maragno, a
junior, plays the humorous Footman.
This complex play is full of wonderful
characters and surprise twists that are
sure to captivate the audience.
Famed British translators, Pamela
Hansford Johnson and Kitty Black in
terpreted this brilliant French play into
English. The recurring themes in “The
Rehearsal” and many of Anouilh’s plays
are the loss of innocence and the rela
tionship between reality and fantasy.
The lustful pursuit of pleasure often
DO WHAT YOUR FRIENDS DO.
SHOP AT CHARLOTTE’S!
Specializing in sterltng jewetry, hand picked engravible silver ptate, and exqutsitive
gifts.
ort/ 01...
leads to hollow, empty relationships
among the characters.
The actors had the difficult job in
portraying Anouilh’s complex charac
ters full of motives that are not portrayed
through words, but subtext and actions.
Because the characters in the play are
superficial, their true personality is only
exposed at key moments during the
show.
“The language in which the play is
written is difficult to interpret and por
tray,” Stewart said. “At times, it is dif
ficult to understand Anouilh’s true in
tentions.”
The cast needed to be dressed in au
thentic 18'^ cenmry costumes for their
“rehearsal” of “The Double Incon
stancy.”
“It was interesting doing this show
because I was researching two time pe
riods, the 1950s and the 1720s,” Alex
Sergeant, a UNCW professor and the
costume designer, said. Sergeant fur
ther explained that for the 1950s, she re
searched fashion, but for the 1720s, she
researched the art. Watteau, an IS"* cen
tury artist, was the most influential for
both costume and set design.
Head Set Designer, Tom Macy, care
fully captured the ambience of a cha
teau in France in the 1950s. The set
consists of a beautiful parlor room deco
rated with many of the character’s fam
ily portraits.
“The Rehearsal” is sure to be a fas
cinating play full of memorable perfor
mances from the talented cast. Last
night was opening night and the perfor
mances will continue through this week
end. Showtime is 8 p.m. Thursday
through Saturday and 2 p.m. for the
Sunday matinee. Tickets are free for
UNCW students with I.D. and $5 for the
general public. Seating is limited and
reservations are recommended. To
make reservations call the Kenan Audi
torium Box Office at 962-3500.
m
:••••• •
Coumsy of SL Min'a Musmm of Aft
St John’s Museum opens
new exhibit on human figure
Rq^adng Vugima Wtight-Fiteson’s paintings aod liie exMatmNative Ameai-
canaitatSt J(iai’sMuseai!iiofAitw31tea!tu(^dftfaebiBnaa£lguieiBart. Keifli
Haring’s “Untitted,” ^w& above, wD be on S^y as ]»ft exhit^ "Tte
HuimnBic(oi:'’o£Bda]lyq)ensmjfMdaywibawa]k-tfm)u^tiCNB’. A|»mewrec^
ticm for the exhiM wfll be held tmight at 7 pjn. Tlie I&man FacK®; Figtiratkn in
American Art, 1950-1995 will be on (fepby in (he Hughes Gallety thiou^A|ail 22.