Friday, September 12, 2008

Adapting the Classics – The Misanthrope

Red Tape Theatre's panel Adapting the Classics will be presented on Saturday, October 11 at 4:30 p.m., between performances of Dog in a Manger. I'll be devoting a post to each of our panelists, starting with Libby Ford.

Libby Ford is the Associate Artistic Director of Greasy Joan & Co. (www.greasyjoan.org) where she recently directed Moliere's The Misanthrope. Set in a crumbling city, the social climbing characters did their best to ignore the gaping whole in the wall of Celimene's boudoir. Bedecked in 1980's finery they sniped, gossiped and formed alliances in a world that had no rewards to give them. Alceste, the misanthrope of the title, ignored the door and entered through the wall itself; a prelude to the illusions he would shatter.The production opened at the Athenaeum Theatre in March 2008 and was revived at Theatre on the Lake that June.

Greasy Joan's mission is to re-imagine classic plays for the contemporary stage. I'll be asking Libby about the company as a whole but particularly look forward to a discussion of The Misanthrope.

Other panelists include:

  • Tony Lewis, Artistic Director of Midtangent Productions
  • Katie McLean, Artistic Ensemble Member at Lifeline Theatre Company
  • Blake Montgomery, Artistic Director of The Building Stage

Paul G. Miller
Season Dramaturge

Dog in a Manger runs October 6-26.
Visit www.redtapetheatre.org for details and to purchase tickets online!

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