The Learned Ladies – Molière

Sally Wood Director	Meg Anderson Set Designer	Jonna Klaiber Costume Designer	Gregg Carville Lighting Designer
Rew Tippin 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

*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.