Wake Forest University Theatre presents

translated by Richard Wilbur

October 29-30 & November 3-7, 2010

CAST

GORGIBUS, a middle-class Parisian.................................Michael Pizzalato*
CÉLIE, his daughter........................................................Morgan Stumbras
LÉLIE, a young man in love with Célie........................................Andy Belt*
GROS-RENÉ, Lélie’s valet.....................................................Nick Reichert*
SGANARELLE, a Parisian Bourgeois and an imaginary cuckold..........Guy Aiken
SGANARELLE’S WIFE.........................................................Celia Quillian*§
VILLEBREQUIN, father of Valère to whom Célie is promised...Nate Brickhouse
CÉLIE’S MAID.....................................................................Lizzie Stothart
A RELATIVE OF SGANARELLE’S WIFE.......................................Mandy Emma

*denotes a member of the Anthony Aston Players
§denotes a Presidental Scholar in Theatre

SETTING
A residential square in Paris, 1660.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Though now world famous as a comic playwright, Molière found the path to fame was slow and difficult. He started as an actor with a fledgling theatre company which attempted to gain a foothold in Paris. That venture landed him briefly in debtor's prison, before he tried his luck touring the provinces. During the next thirteen years as an itinerant performer, Molière became the manager of a theatre company and also
began writing plays to provide material for the troupe. His big break came in 1658 when his company was invited to give a performance before King Louis XIV. However, Molière and company, wishing to be perceived as serious theatre artists, nearly squandered this opportunity by presenting a tragedy. Only when they begged permission to perform a short farcical afterpiece The Amorous Doctor written by Molière, did they win royal approval.

King Louis XIV granted Moliere permission to settle his company in Paris. They worked to please a public at large, while also participating in court entertainments. One of their early hits in Paris was TheImaginary Cuckold, or Sganarelle (first performed 350 years ago on 28 May 1660). Originally presented as an afterpiece, Cuckold was presented 34 times in its first season with a noticeable increase in revenues at those performances and it stayed in the company's repertoire for years.

We are performing the play as a stand-alone piece (we won't make you sit through a 17th century tragedy first) and have added introductory dances set to the music of Jean-Baptiste Lully. Molière and Lully collaborated on a number of comedy-ballets for performance at court and Molière clearly was not averse to adding some dances if it entertained his audience. Fear of cuckoldry also entertained Molière's original audience and sexual jealousy is a recurrent theme in his plays. While cuckoldry is not the cultural obsession today that it was in Molière's time, we hope you will recognize and enjoy the jealous lovers. Perhaps, we can all use a gentle reminder of the danger of jumping to conclusions.

PRODUCTION STAFF

Technical Director.......................................................R. Trevor Anderson
Assistant Stage Managers........................Latisha DiVenuto*, Emily Mannon
Properties................................................Ben Hege, Mary Wayne-Thomas
Master Electrician.............................................Donald “Ducky” Davidson§
Assistant Master Electrician.........................................,,,...Carolyn Jones*
Electricians.................................Mackenzie Finnegan*, Perry Ransbottom,
Chris Garcia, and Theatre 150 class
Lead Basin Carpenter........................................Donald “Ducky” Davidson§
Carpenters.........Michael Whatley*, Perry Ransbottom, Mackenzie Finnegan*
Nathan Musgrove*§, Chandale Nyswonger*, Danielle Thorsen*
Chris Garcia, Alex Aceituno, Morgan Maloney*, Chris Gleeson
Robert Halperin, Carolyn Jones*, Parke Leatherman, Reed Pendergrass*
Michael Pizzalato*, Hailey Robbins, Suzanne Spicer*, and Theatre 150 class
Scenic Artists..........................Chandalae Nyswonger*, Perry Ransbottom*,
Danielle Thorsen*, C.J. Milam
Costume Crafts....................................Mary Wayne-Thomas, Alice Barsony
Costume Studio Supervisor.....................................................Lisa Weller
Costume Assistants.....Caroline Dignes*§, Elizabeth Skinner, Lomar Osborne
Chakayla Taylor, Paige Klasing, Jade Harris, Ashley Birkedal
Stitcher........................................................................Jessica Ferguson
Wardrobe/Hair/Makeup Assistants....Elizabeth Patterson, Sarah Jean Sparks*
Light Board Operator.........................................................SheRea Delsol
Sound Board Operator.................................................Austin McWilliams*
Photography.................................Ken Bennett, Bill Ray III, Leslie Spencer
Audience Services Coordinator.............................................Leslie Spencer
Box Office Staff............Ae’Jay Mitchell*, Sarah Jean Sparks*, Lizzy Thomas§
Suzanne Spicer*, Dean D. Guerra*, Sara Lindsey*
SheRea DelSol, Brandon Ferri, Jake Skillings