| Two Classic Comedies | VCA |
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Two bitter-sweet comedies of love, jealousy and the ensuing and hilarious havoc that this volatile mixture can cause.
The theme of The Fan is the merest trifle. A fan is dropped by a young lady as she rises to answer the greetings of a young man and thus is woven a web of jealousies, rivalries and misunderstandings, until everyone in the little town of Case Nuove is involved. Carlo Goldoni captures all human types, motives and caricatures in this delightful, lively comedy of village life & loves.
In Marivaux’s merciless wit, the pain felt by characters, as much as the pain they inflict, is the touchstone of true love. In The Feigned Inconstancy, Dorante and the Marquise hatch a plan to pretend to be in love in order to punish their respective and fickle lovers, the Countess and the Captain. Of course it all backfires hilariously and all four characters learn that in love the one rule that matters is: No Acting Allowed.
Guest directors Gary Down and David Wicks, respected as actors and directors throughout Australia, both have a strong affinity for comedy. Their productions bring a contemporary energy to the wit of two playwrights who have brought laughter to centuries of theatregoers. Gary Down directed the VCA’s 2007 hit The Venetian Twins and we are delighted he has agreed to return.
Comedy, the other side of Drama, is a key element of actor training. The Comedy genre is incorporated in the VCA Drama curriculum to give actors a sense of being ridiculous in their seriousness and this is a rare opportunity to see these seldom staged plays by two master comedic writers.
The Fan and The Feigned Inconstancy are fast-moving, sharp works; two hilarious satires – the classic forerunners of situation comedies, performed by the next generation of Australia’s actors. Audiences can expect unexpected bedlam and delicious mayhem and confusion around every corner.
An essential component of The Fan and The Feigned Inconstancy is the imaginative and versatile design by VCA Production. The students working on these two plays are across 4 levels: Undergraduate years 1, 2 & 3 and Postgraduate. The production process commenced following intense study of the Goldoni and Marivaux texts. Storyboard and design proposals supporting the directors’ vision were workshopped. An intense period of team-based work on each key production area follows, culminating in the season opening.
VCA Production students gain experience by way of studio and project practice and peer learning across the broad span of work mounted by the VCA as well as external productions. Graduates have gone on to develop careers as skilled artists/technicians in the performing industry. In any given year production students work on a variety of performance forms in a range of capacities, including set, costume, lighting and sound design, workshop, wardrobe, stage management and puppetry.
VCA Drama and VCA Production present
Two Classic Comedies | Goldoni & Marivaux
Company 2008 Actors
The Fan
by Carlo Goldoni ~ directed by Gary Down
Dates/times: Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24; Monday 26 – Wednesday 28 May at 7.30pm ~ Saturday 24 May at 2pm
Venue: Space 28
The Feigned Inconstancy
by Pierre Marivaux ~ directed by David Wicks
Dates/times: Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24; Monday 26 – Wednesday 28 May at 8pm ~ Saturday 24 May at 2pm
Venue: PS1
Cost: $20 Full / $12 Concession
Bookings:
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Location: VCA Drama, 28 Dodds Street, Southbank
Information: 03 9685 9225
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