Yale Bulletin and Calendar

April 22, 2005|Volume 33, Number 27|Two-Week Issue

Dan Colman stars as Henry and Kathleen McElfresh portrays Annie in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing."

The drama school stages 'The Real Thing'
as its final production of the season

The lengths to which people will go in their search for love and romance is explored in Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing," the final production of the School of Drama's 2004-2005 season.

The play is the thesis production of director Nicholas C. Avila, a third-year M.F.A. candidate at the School of Drama. It will be staged Tuesday-Saturday, May 3-7, at the University Theatre, 222 York St.

At the heart of "The Real Thing" is Henry, a wise-cracking, irreverent and sensitive writer, who finds himself trapped in a tricky maze of passion and pain where his words prove powerless. Originally produced in London in 1982, the play moved to Broadway in 1984, where it won Tony Awards for Best Play, Leading Actor (Jeremy Irons), Leading Actress (Glenn Close), Featured Actress (Christine Baranski) and Director (Mike Nichols). The New York Times described "The Real Thing" as "the most bracing play anyone has written about love and marriage."

Director Avila's School of Drama credits include "Mirror, Mirror," "Romeo and Juliet," "Muke the Inquisitive" and "After the Blaze." Before attending the School of Drama, Nick was the co-founder and associate artistic director for two California theater companies: Son of Semele Ensemble in Los Angeles, and Revelation Players in the San Francisco Bay area. He received his B.F.A. in theater performance from Chapman University in Orange, California.

The cast of "The Real Thing" includes Corena Chase (Charlotte), Dan Colman (Henry), Erin Felgar (Debbie), Eric Gilde (Brodie), Lucas Howland (Max), Kathleen McElfresh (Annie) and Charles Semine (Billy).

The play features scenic design by Kanae Heike, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Burke Brown and sound design by Hillary Charnas with associate sound designer Brad Ward. Michael D'Alessandro is the dramaturg; Adam Ganderson is the stage manager.

Performances of "The Real Thing" are at 8 p.m. nightly, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Individual ticket prices range from $15 to $18; student tickets are $12 to $14.50. Discounted rates for seniors and groups are also available. Tickets may be purchased by calling (203) 432-1234, or in person at the Yale Repertory Theatre box office at 1120 Chapel Street (at York).

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Yale increases its voluntary payment to city

Levin appoints new V.P. for Development: Inge Reichenbach

Event honors former Yale chaplain's ministry, activism

Thomas C. Duffy chosen to serve as interim dean of the School of Music

Link between stress, insomnia and obesity shown

Event explores unique singing tradition shared by disparate groups

Conference explores historic impact of global quest for oil

Unbiased reporting is not always noble, CNN journalist says

Veteran coach with over 400 wins to head women's basketball

Symposium honors chemist's '30 years in the trenches'

The drama school stages 'The Real Thing' . . .

Yale honors 116 staff members at Long-Service Recognition Dinner

Juniors honored for their scholarship, contributions

IN MEMORIAM

Biologist Dr. Alvin Novick, noted advocate for people with AIDS

Lloyd Reynolds, shaped fields of labor relations and economics