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The Learned Ladies | July 6 – August 20

by Molière
directed by Sally Wood

sponsored by George & Elaine Keyes

Clitandre seeks the hand of Henriette but her mother has other plans. Needless to say the course of true love runs anything but smoothly in Moliere’s comp romp of pompous poets, pretentious parents, and seductive servants. Thanks to the clever maneuvering of Uncle Ariste all is set right in the end, with true love trumping intellectual snobbery.

Schedule
Thursday, July 6, 7:30 p.m. (Preview)
Friday, July 7, 7:30 p.m. (Opening with Pre-Show Classics in Context Discussion)
Saturday, July 8, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 15, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 23, 7:00 p.m. (Post-Show Discussion)
Thursday, August 3, 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 8, 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 9, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 11, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 16, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 19, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 20, 1:00 p.m.

 

Production Team


Sally Wood
Director

Meg Anderson
Set Designer

Jonna Klaiber
Costume Designer

Gregg Carville
Lighting Designer
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Sound Designer

Melissa Nathan*
Stage Manager

Ingrid Pierson*
Assistant Stage Manager

Hayley Wenk
Assistant Stage Manager


Cast (In order of appearance)


Kelsey Burke
Armande

Maggie Thompson
Henriette

Wardell Julius Clark
Clitandre
 
Mark S. Cartier*
Belise

Josh Carpenter*
Ariste
 
Ryan Vincent Anderson*
Chrysale
 
Meghan Leathers
Martine
 
Lucy Lavely*
Philaminte
 
James Noel Hoban*
Trissotin
 
Emery Lawrence
Lepine

J.P. Guimont*
Vadius

Ben Shaw
Julien

Mackenzie Shaw
Ensemble

CJ Stewart
Ensemble

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*Member of Actor’s Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

 

From the Director

“I’m very comfortable being right,” she admitted.
“We all are. But sometimes it’s a lonely place.”
Susan Mallery,

It is so good to be right. I love it! Really, let’s be honest, who doesn’t? In high school, I spent several years dressed in an enormous pair of men’s overalls. Not only that, I wore men’s boxer briefs on the outside of those overalls. It was my daily uniform for years. I wasn’t part of a gang of kids who dressed this way; it was just me. I loved it. No one was going to tell ME what fashion was—I WAS FASHION. I was above fashion…and it was hideous. Now, when I look back at my high school self, I say: “What the hell was I thinking? On what planet does looking like a deflated Old MacDonald on a bad night make any sense???” Perhaps you ask yourself, “What does Edgewater High School have to do with a French comedy that takes place in 1672?” The short answer is EVERYTHING.

“Being right” never goes out of fashion. Falling into all-consuming and blinding love with ideas, with a guru, with our girlfriend’s sister, or with the melodic, awe-inspiring tones of our own voice is intoxicating. How can there be room for compromise when there is only victory and defeat? As a playwright, Moliere masterfully creates worlds where the tap of self-righteousness runs free, and ladies and gentlemen, the bar is open! The Learned Ladies is joyful, ridiculous, midsummer madness, and when I look at the characters, I don’t hate them, I recognize each of them: Who hasn’t been charmed and blinded by the guy they thought had all the answers? Who hasn’t stood up and public defended someone who after the fact turned out was taking full advantage of us? Who hasn’t worn boxers on the outside of their overalls throughout their junior and senior years of high school? (Okay, maybe this last one has fewer hands raised, but you get my point.)

Looking back at ourselves and laughing at what we thought we knew is a universal joy all can share. Welcome to the party.