Yale Bulletin and Calendar

March 30, 2007|Volume 35, Number 23

Brienin Bryant will play the title role in
"Lulu," the next play at the Yale Rep.

'Lulu' at Yale Rep is tale of obsession,
sexuality and violence

"Lulu," a play that was once banned -- and even today is intended for mature audiences only -- will be the next offering in the Yale Repertory Theatre's 2006-2007 season.

Written by Frank Wedekind, "Lulu" has been adapted for this production by Mark Lamos, the show's director, and Drew Lichtenberg from a translation by Carl R. Mueller. It will be presented March 30-April 21 at the Yale Rep, 1120 Chapel St. (at York).

Described both as a femme fatale and an embodiment of the "eternally feminine," Lulu climbs from the gutter to the heights of society, along the way intoxicating a succession of lovers -- some who will kill for her and some who will die for her.

Playwright Wedekind (1864-1916) was a key figure in the emergence of German expressionist literature. He was particularly concerned with sexual themes. His play "Spring Awakening" (1891) scandalized German society with its explicit portrayal of a sexual coming of age. An adaptation of that play is now a hit Broadway musical. Wedekind later attacked bourgeois morality in his two tragedies, "Earth Spirit" (1895) and "Pandora's Box" (1904), both of which feature the character Lulu. The plays, censured during Wedekind's lifetime, later became the basis of Alban Berg's opera "Lulu" and a silent film by G.W. Pabst.

For the Yale Rep production, Lamos and Lichtenberg have created a single evening of theater from Wedekind's plays "Monster Tragedy" (1894), "Earth Spirit" and "Pandora's Box."

Lamos, a Tony Award nominee, promises audiences a visceral staging of this controversial and rarely produced masterpiece. In fact, due to its nudity, violence and sexual situations, the production is being recommended for mature audiences only. "When James Bundy suggested Wedekind's 'Lulu' as a possibility for my return to Yale Rep, I hadn't read it for many years," he says. "What struck me most was how different the play was from G.W. Pabst's silkily sensual silent film starring the legendary Louise Brooks. It also bore only passing resemblance to Alban Berg's operatic incarnation. Wedekind worked from a tradition of cabaret, vaudeville and the political club scene of his time. The original 'Lulu' is much more absurdist, more knockabout than the famous film and the lushly atonal operatic masterpiece. His work inspired artists in all mediums, including Bert Brecht, whose experimental mixing of styles and tones became a staple of the 20th-century avant-garde."

From 1980 to 1997, Lamos was artistic director of Hartford Stage, where he produced 14 Shakespeare plays and an Ibsen cycle that included the complete "Peer Gynt." His Broadway credits include "Our Country's Good" (which received a Tony nomination), "The Deep Blue Sea" and "The Gershwins‚ Fascinating Rhythm"; his off-Broadway credits include "Big Bill," "Tiny Alice" (which earned a Lortel Award and Drama Desk nomination) and "Measure for Measure" (which also won a Lortel Award). He has worked extensively at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, and the opera companies of San Francisco, Santa Fe, St. Louis, Seattle and Munich, among others. Lamos staged the Yale Rep's 2003 revival of "The Taming of the Shrew." "Lulu" is his second production here.

The title role of Lulu will be played by Brienin Bryant, who has appeared at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Cherry Lane Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center, Guthrie Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Trinity Repertory Company, as well as at The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival. The cast also features Louis Cancelmi, Jordan Charney, Felicity Jones, New Haven native and Yale School of Drama graduate John Bedford Lloyd, Jesse J. Perez, Charles Socarides and Joe Vincent. Completing the cast are Alexander Beard, Michael Braun, Sarita Covington, Laura Esposito, Joseph Gallagher, Brianna Hill and Erica Sullivan.

"Lulu" features scenic design by Rumiko Ishii, costume design by Christina Bullard, lighting design by Burke Brown, sound design by David Thomas, choreography and musical staging by Sean Curran, dramaturgy by Catherine Sheehy and Drew Lichtenberg, and fight direction by Rick Sordelet.

"Lulu" will be performed at 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; there will be no Monday performance on April 9 or April 16. Matinees are at 2 p.m. on Saturday (except March 31) and on Wednesday, April 11.

Lower-priced previews are March 30-April 4 at 8 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, April 5, at 8 p.m. with a cast party following the performance at Zinc, 964 Chapel St. Other special events will include:

* "Talk Back," conversations with members of the cast and creative team, to be held after the April 7 and 14 matinees and the April 10 evening performance. "Talk Back" is sponsored by the New Haven Advocate.

* Senior Matinee, to be held on Wednesday, April 11, featuring a pre-performance conversation with members of the creative team at 1 p.m., including complimentary dessert, courtesy of Atticus Bookstore and Café.

* "Before & After," on Thursday, April 12, with a 6 p.m. pre-show pizza party and mixer at BAR, 254 Crown St., and a post-show "Talk Back."

* An open-captioned performance of "Lulu" on Saturday, April 14, at 2 p.m. Open-captioned performances offer patrons a digital display of the play's dialogue as it is spoken. Open captioning is provided for Yale Rep by c2inc.

* An audio-described performance on Saturday, April 21, at 2 p.m. Audio description offers a live narration of the play's action, sets and costumes for blind or low-vision patrons via headset. Pre-show description begins in the theater at 1:45 p.m. The number for teletype orders is (203) 432-1521.

Ticket prices range from $35 to $55, with discounts available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. For tickets or more information, visit www.yalerep.org or call (203) 432-1234.

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