Courtesy
Alexandra Bonds'costume designs help make the play's content "completely current,
and not out of date," director Jeffrey Mason said.
Misanthrope
continued from page 9
involved with the production.
“We are not always aware what
we’re doing is artificial,” Mason
said. “’The Misanthrope’ deals with
some very significant issues. It
deals with hypocrisy and playing
roles, how people are dealing with
each other, how people are truthful
and deceiving. It’s a comedy that
has a real stem streak.”
Molifere, a 17th century French
playwright active during the reign
of King Louis XIV, was the son of
the king’s royal upholsterer. When
he went into theater, he did so ex
plicitly against the wishes of his fa
ther, and changed his name from
Jean Baptiste Poquelin. According
to Mason, Moli^re was at the height
of his career between the 1660s
and 1670s. He had his own theater
company and served as actor, man
ager and playwright. “The Misan
thrope” opened in 1666 to mixed
reviews from the general public.
Mason noted the importance of
being aware of the historical period
in which Moliere wrote.
“Moli&re was writing basically for
Louis’ taste,” he said. “That’s sort of
important to keep in mind because
you have to ask ‘What would Louis
think of this?’ King Louis ruled
France with complete authority. He
was the center of everything. The
center of government, the center of
culture. Louis set the tone.”
The play, written using rhyming
couplets, has been imbued with a
modern flavor due to costuming
choices. The cast is adorned in con
temporary dress designed by
Alexandra Bonds (known by the
cast as “Sandy”). Mason said this
helps make it clear that the play’s
content is “completely current, and
not out of date.”
Oronte actor Ian Armstrong
also complimented Bonds’ cos
tume design.
“Magnificent costumes. I can’t
say enough about the costumes,”
Armstrong said. “What Sandy has
done is taken period-style baroque
and mixed it with today’s cutting
edge style. It kind of looks like a Las
Vegas-France — stunning. It’s
amazing to wear because it elevates
you so much. It’s like going to the
Oscars with something on.”
Theater arts major Leticia
Maskell, who plays C61im6ne, said
she first read “The Misanthrope” in
high school and had been waiting to
play the character since then.
“She’s very strong, she’s very
feminine and very beautiful,”
Maskell said. “She’s in complete
control of everything she does. She
runs these poor men into the
ground and they still come back the
next day. She has complete immu
nity from being in trouble for any
thing she does.”
Theater graduate student Eliza
"Magnificent
costumes. I can't say
enough about the
costumes."
Ian Armstrong
Oronte actor
beth Helman, who plays the male
role of Acaste, said the Celimene
character has been shifted to a
greater position of power.
“Moli&re wrote a really interest
ing script,” Helman said. “I think
Jeff, the director, has made some
interesting changes where the fe
male lead is more knowing, and it
turns out she’s the one in control,
which I think is an interesting
choice for our contemporary audi
ence. You go back to Moli£re’s time,
and she was sort of a pawn.”
The opening night performance
will commence at 8 p.m. with the
show running through April 26.
The play runs near the 120-minute
mark, with an intermission. A ben
efit screening for Sexual Assault
Support Services is scheduled for 2
p.m. on April 13. Tickets are #12
for the general public, #9 for sen
iors and University faculty and $5
for University students. They are
available at the EMU Ticket Office,
the Hult Center for the Performing
Arts, or the Robinson Theatre box
office during performance evenings.
Contact the Pulse reporter
at aaronshakra@dailyenierald.coni.
Seat 17
continued from page 5
University doesn’t do enough to pro
mote growth in clubs. The impor
tance for business students is to get
companies to come and more job
opportunities.
Scott Koketsu did not wish to be
interviewed by the Emerald.
Bethany Larson is a freshman
business administration major and
has been an ASUO intern since fall
term. Larson did not know Section
5 listed senators’ duties and could
not give an example of any duties.
Q: What are the most important
I
issues facing the students you would
represent?
Larson: I think the most impor
tant issues for the business school
are just increasing knowledge and
awareness of the business school, as
well as the programs within the
business school, like the honors
clubs. And the programs within the
business school that are helping to
students to increase their knowl
edge, like all the free tutoring, and
all the other programs on campus
that are used for tutoring.
Q: How will you figure out how to
spend the surplus?
Larson: Based on where it’s need
ed and where it’s going to do the
most good; what clubs, which area
of the ASUO it’s going to be used
best in, and where it’s going to be
best for the students, and — since it
is part of my money — where I
would want it spent as well. Looking
at (in the) past where it’s been
spent. Looking at which clubs and
activities are growing and which are
being used most by students and
which are in high demand. By look
ing at wholes. The Emerald has a lot
of information on student voices.
Contact the senior news reporter
atjenniferbear@dailyemerald.com.
1
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