 | The question of whether two dramatic divas can share the spotlight is posed in "The Ladies of the Camellias," which dramatizes a mythical encounter between real-life divas Sarah Bernhardt and Eleonora Duse. |
"The Ladies of the Camellias," described by its author as "a soufflé with a razor blade inside," will be the next offering in the Yale Repertory Theatre's 2004-2005 season.
The comedy by Lillian Groag will be staged Nov. 26-Dec. 18, under the direction of James Bundy, dean of the School of Drama and artistic director of the Yale Rep. It will be performed in the University Theatre, 222 York St.
Set in late-19th-century Paris, "The Ladies of the Camellias" describes a mythical meeting between two real-life dramatic divas of the day: the renowned Sarah Bernhardt and the Italian actress Eleonora Duse.
According to playwright Groag: "In June, 1897, Eleonora Duse arrived in Paris on her first French professional tour. On a fiercely competitive impulse ... she chose a repertoire consisting of almost exactly the same roles that Sarah Bernhardt was famous for, not least 'The Lady of the Camellias,' which both ladies used as their faithful 'war-horse' all over Europe."
As Groag's work unfolds, the two ladies clash over their share of the spotlight, an anarchist plots a bombing, an ingénue schemes to improve her future, leading men chew the scenery, hungry cheetahs roar and a playwright finally hears one line spoken just the way he wrote it.
Playwright Groag's other works include "The White Rose," which received the AT&T Award for New American Play and "The Magic Fire," which was honored by the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays. She has also translated and adapted works by Lorca, Feydeau, Musset and other playwrights. Groag is also an actress and director, who has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theaters throughout the country. She is an associate artist of the Old Globe Theatre.
Director Bundy, a 1995 graduate of the School of Drama, came to Yale in 2002 to serve at the helm of his alma mater and the Yale Rep. His previous experience included serving as artistic director of Great Lakes Theatre Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, and associate producing director of The Acting Company, one of the nation's foremost touring repertory theaters. Among the plays he has directed since returning to Yale was the New England premiere of Amy Freed's "The Psychic Life of Savages" in 2003.
The roles of Bernhardt and Duse will be played by Judith-Marie Bergan and Felicity Jones, respectively. Both have extensive acting credits on the stage and screen. In addition, Bergan was the recipient of Chicago's Sara Siddons Award, and Jones was artistic associate with Theatre de la Jeune Lune 1985-1995.
The other cast members are Tom Beckett (Benoit), Mikelle Johnson (A Girl), Dan Kremer (Coquelin), Dean Nolen (Dumas), John G. Preston (Worms), Triney Sandoval (Ivan) and Marcelo Tubert (Flavio Ando).
"The Ladies of the Camellias" features scenic design by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting design by Stephen Strawbridge and sound design by David Budries. Michael Walkup is the dramaturg, Rick Sordelet is the fight choreographer, and Sarah Bierenbaum is the stage manager.
The play will be performed nightly at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18, and on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
The Yale Rep will present a number of special events during the run of "The Ladies of the Camellias" at no extra cost. These include "Yale Night," on Tuesday, Nov. 30, which includes a pre-show discussion with members of the creative team as well as free pizza courtesy of BAR and soft drinks for students from area colleges and universities; "Opening Night" on Thursday, Dec. 2, with a celebration following the performance at the Playwright; "Re:Play," a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew following the matinee performance on Saturday, Dec. 4; and "Senior Matinee" on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The production will be sign-interpreted and audio-described on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m.
Tickets for "The Ladies of the Camellias" range from $20 to $45; student, senior and groups rates are also available. Tickets are available by calling (203) 432-1234; stopping by the Yale Rep box office at 1120 Chapel St. (corner of York); or visiting the website at www.yalerep.org.
T H I S
There's a clash of divas in the Yale Rep's
'The Ladies of the Camellias'
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