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Shakespearean extravaganza to open summer season
The Western Carolina Stage Company will open its 2004 summer theatre season Friday, June 11, with the outrageous comedy The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) by Jess Borgeson, Adam Long and Daniel Singer.
“Both those who love and loathe William Shakespeare will want to see this show,” said the play’s director, Jim Manning, associate professor of communication and theatre arts at Western Carolina University.
Michael Ayers (top, with sword), Tom Wilson (seated, right) and Josh Cox take a comical whack at performing all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays in less than two hours in the Western Carolina Stage Company’s season opening production of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (abridged). The show runs June 11-20 in Niggli Theatre on the Western Carolina University campus. Evening performances will be at 7:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees will be at 2 pm. For ticket information, call 227-7447 or visit online at westerncarolinastagecompany.com.
While targeting the pomposity that sometimes accompanies Shakespearean scholarship, three actors – Tom Wilson, Josh Cox and Michael Ayers – will portray almost all of the Bard’s most famous heroes, heroines and villains from his 37 plays.
“Three guys armed with plastic swords, a few wigs, a gallon of special effects vomit and a rubberized MacBeth head have less than two hours to prove that Shakespeare is more than a bunch of sour-puss royals spouting iambic pentameter,” Manning said.
Having three male actors playing so many diverse roles presents a special opportunity for the stage company’s award-winning costumer, Susan Brown-Strauss.
“We will start with authentic-styled garbs, and as the play digresses so will the costumes. By the second act, we’ll have Renaissance garments made of bubble wrap and clear packing tape. This is the ‘fast food’ equivalent for costumes,” Brown-Strauss said.
Performances will be June 11, 12, 16, 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., and June 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 2 p.m. in Niggli Theatre (Room 123 of Stillwell Building) on the Western campus.
Tickets are $15 for adults; $12.50 for seniors and students. Season tickets also are available. For more information, call 227-7447 or visit westerncarolinastagecompany.com.
Formed in 2003, the Western Carolina Stage Company is affiliated with Actor’s Equity, the professional union for actors.
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