Playwright David Ives deftly adapted French Playwright Pierre Corneille’s play, Le Menteur (The Liar) written in 1643 and set in Paris, and gave it a wonderful, modern feel to it. He writes about adapting the play in the program notes, "There was one thing that I knew right away: my version would have to be in verse, just as it is in Corneille’s. The Liar is a portrait of a brilliant performer walking a tightrope for the whole length of the action, and it needs language to match. … In the end, I did to The Liar exactly what Corneille had done from his Spanish source: I reworked it to my own ends. The result is what I call a translaptation, i.e., a translation with a heavy dose of adaptation…."
Kate MacCluggage (Clarice), Monique Barbee (Lucrece),
Aaron Krohn (Dorante), Brian Reddy (Geronte)
We saw the play on May 12, 2015, and David’s adaptation or "translaptation" as he calls it, is gorgeous; a hilarious comedy with tongue-in-cheek witticisms and innuendo, with fun twists and plot turns that add the right note of complexity the way that an inspired chef instinctively knows where to add a pinch or two of spices to enhance the flavor.
Rusty Ross (Cliton) and Aaron Krohn (Dorante)
The set by Scenic Designer Kristen Robinson is sophisticated and simplistic and stirs the imagination without detracting from the talented ensemble cast by Tara Rubin Casting, and the creative and stunning costuming by Jessica Ford. Matthew Richards works his magic with lighting design, as does Sound Designer David Budries.
Broadway veteran Aaron Krohn shines as Dorante the engaging liar, who spins elaborate tales to avoid telling the truth even if it would be beneficial to him, as does Rusty Ross his comedic valet, Cliton, who unlike his master cannot tell a lie, and Brian Reddy, Dorante’s father whom is eager to believe the best of his son.
Brian Reddy (Geronie) and Jay Russell (Philiste)
Interwoven like a rich tapestry are the characters Lucrece (Monique Barbee) who is not fooled by the charming Dorante, twin sister servants, the lustful Isabelle, and the restrained Sabine (Rebekah Brockman), Clarice (Kate MacCluggage) engaged to Alicippe, Phillippe Bowgen (Alcippe), and Philiste (Jay Russell), Alcippe’s friend, whose lives are uproariously intertwined.
The play is a funny, easy romp, thoroughly enjoyable, and is the perfect opening to celebrate the Westport Country Playhouse’s 85th season.
Rusty Ross (Cliton) and Rebekah Brockman (Isabelle / Sabine)
Performance schedule: Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm. The theatre is dark on Mondays.
The Liar Cast
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Monique Barbee
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Lucrece, who recognizes Dorante for the liar and flatter he is.
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Philippe Bowgen
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Alcippe, Dorante’s outrageously jealous friend
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Rebekah Brockman
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Isabelle/Sabine, twin servants, one prurient, the other puritanical.
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Aaron Krohn
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Dorante, the title character, charming, quick-witted, and a brazen liar.
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Kate MacCluggage
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Clarice, who plots to expose Dorante’s lies.
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Brian Reddy
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Geronte, Dorante’s easily duped father.
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Rusty Ross
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Cliton, Dorante’s virtuous-to-a-fault servant.
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Jay Russell
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Philiste, Alcippe’s honorable and reasonable friend.
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For information on the play or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at 203-227-4177 or call the toll-free number at 888-927-7529, or visit them on the website at www.WestportPlayhouse.org.
Jay Russell (Philiste) and Philippe Bowgen (Alcippe)
The Westport Country Playhouse Box Office is open during Performance Days Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 8:30 pm, Saturday from 11:00 am until 8:30 pm, Sunday from 11:00 am until 3:30 pm, and is closed on Monday. Non-Performance Days, the Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 pm until 6:00 pm, and is closed on Monday.
Kate MacCluggage (Clarice) and Monique Barbee (Lucrece)
The Westport Country Playhouse named as "Theatre Company of the Year" in December 2013 by The Wall Street Journal, opened in the 1930s in a transformed 1835 cow barn, which has, and continues to attract, a "who’s who" of prominent actors. Looking at the framed posters of past shows that line the lobby walls was like entering an encyclopedia of the arts. A few of the many renowned actors who have appeared on the stage there include Ethyl Barrymore, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Tallulah Bankhead, Gloria Swanson, Don Ameche, Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy, Jane Fonda, Danny Aiello, Blythe Danner, Jill Clayburgh, Richard Dreyfus, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Lynn Redgrave, Gene Wilder, and Westport residents Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.
"Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a cultural nexus for patrons, artists and students and is a treasured resource for the State of Connecticut. There are no boundaries to the creative thinking for future seasons or the kinds of audiences and excitement for theater that Westport Country Playhouse can build."
Philippe Bowgen (Alcippe), Jay Russell (Philiste),
and Aaron Krohn (Dorante)
For information on upcoming events and other performances, please visit the website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org.
Upcoming Performances
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Play
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Dates Running`
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The Liar
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May 5 – 23, 2015
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And A Nightingale Sang
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June 9 – 27, 2015
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Love And Money
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July 21 – August 8, 2015
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Bedroom Farce
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August 25 – Sept. 13, 2015
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Broken Glass
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October 6 – 24, 2015
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Westport Country Playhouse
25 Powers Court
Westport, Connecticut 06880
United States
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
Toll-Free: +1-888-927-7529
Fax: +1-203-454-3239
Box Office: +1-203-227-4177
Website: www.WestportPlayhouse.org
Facebook: www.Facebook/WestportCountryPlayhouse
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© May 2015. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
