Butler Theatre Presents 'The Merchant of Venice'
“The World Comes to Butler,” Butler Theatre’s 2009-2010 season, continues Nov. 11-15 with William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (Nov. 11-15).
That will be followed by Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (Feb. 24-28) and a fourth production to be directed by Bernardo Rey, a visiting artist in residence next spring (April 14-18).
Show times are listed below.
All performances take place in Lilly Hall Studio Theatre 168. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students. Call (317) 940-9247 or e-mail theatrereservations@butler.edu for tickets.
“This Butler Theatre season, the world comes to us from very different places,” interim Theatre Department Chair Owen Schaub said. “Yet these differences will not seem foreign to us; not because we have ‘been’ there by cell phone, iPhone or via the web. Rather, through truly startling theatre, we become engaged with human beings whose lives and experiences resonate for us…. The world in all its variety comes to our audiences this season."
More about each show follows:
The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Tim Hardy, visiting artist in residence
8 p.m. Nov. 11-14
2 p.m. Nov. 14-15
No other work by William Shakespeare has inspired more furious attack, more impassioned defense and, from its creation, more profound disagreement as to what the play might mean, as is the case with The Merchant of Venice. There are those who claim it is quite simply anti-Semitic and should never be performed. Others maintain it is a cry for understanding, and indeed in the mouths of two of the principal characters, Shylock and Portia, are to be found two of the most famous pleas for understanding and compassion as exist in all English literature.
Butler Theatre’s production, under the direction of internationally acclaimed Shakespearean actor and director Tim Hardy, urges us to look deeper into the difficult issues of racial and religious bigotry — and perhaps to wait a little before passing judgment in the hope that others may do the same for us.
Hardy also is teaching two classes in Shakespeare while at Butler for the fall semester.
“We’re looking for our students to have a very particular experience working with an English actor-director whose expertise is in Shakespeare,” Schaub said.
The Cherry Orchard
by Anton Chekhov, translation by Paul Schmidt
Directed by Elaina Artemiev
8 p.m. Feb. 24-27
2 p.m. Feb. 27-28
Written in 1903, the play was given its first production early in 1904. Chekhov viewed the work as a comedy and was deeply frustrated that Konstantin Stanislavski, directing at the Moscow Art Theatre, made it into a tragedy. Most people would have difficulty thinking of the play as a comedy because the loss of the family estate seems so poignant. Yet, as we observe the life onstage we conclude that the characters’ actions are either ridiculous or utterly inept. One might feel sorry for the family – but then surely they could have done a better job of preserving the heritage that they claim is so important to them.
Our Fourth Production
Directed by Bernardo Rey, visiting artist in residence
8 p.m. April 14-17
2 p.m. April 17-18
Bernardo Rey is a Colombian-born director, designer, performer, and artist residing in Italy. He has participated in the International School of Theatre Anthropology with Eugenio Barba, and for three years participated at the Laboratory Theatre and Theatre of Sources directed by Jerzy Grotowski.
Rey’s work investigates the relationships between visual art, performance, and theatre.
As co-creator of Teatro Cenit – Center of Theatre Research (established 1992) – he has focused on the mediator role of arts in society, developing different pedagogic programs for social rehabilitation, using art as an instrument for pacification and tolerance throughout Europe, South America, and the United States. Our excitement about this artist’s work is not only in the humanistic approach and visual excellence, but also in his ability to bring visual, ideological, and performance excellence together for a broad audience.
“His interest in the theater as a professional theater artist is how theater is used to make changes in the social circumstances of the world, particularly as it relates to violence, torture and the treatment of children,” Schaub said. “We don’t know what kind of work he will develop, but given what we’ve seen of his work and his reputation, we are looking forward to a different kind of work than we have done in the department.”
Rey will teach scenography and mask-making while at Butler.
“It’s going to be a very special and exciting year for our students with these two very accomplished artists from overseas (Hardy and Rey) in residence each semester, bringing their particular specialties to the program,” Schaub said.
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