VIU Theatre student Aislynn Mede (l) gets a costume fitting from professional costume designer Laurin Kelsey.
February 24, 2015 - 11:00am
Jokes and innuendo, slapstick antics, mistaken identities and general hilarity. Theatre students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) will present their talents for all this and more during The Servant of Two Masters, a comedic play written in 1745 and on stage in March at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre. Opening night is Thursday, March 5 at 8 pm.
“These types of plays, written in the Italian commedia dell’arte style, were the original sitcoms,” says Theatre department chair Mike Taugher, who has been working with students on stagecraft this semester, and watching their work on the play progress under director Ross Desprez.
The storyline for The Servant of Two Masters involves a servant named Truffaldino who attempts to better his financial situation by attempting to serve two masters at once. Much of the comedy arises from his attempts to keep ahead of his two masters as letters and money exchanges get tangled in confusion. Hidden identities and the antics of Truffaldino create much confusion, but it all ends happily with the social and romantic aspirations of various characters fulfilled.
Theatre student and Nanaimo resident Aislynn Mede is enjoying the lighthearted comedy and playing the character of Clarice, whose dreams of marrying her true love are shattered when the man she was originally promised to marry seemingly returns from the dead.
“My character is kind of your typical girly-girl,” Mede says. “She’s a really fun character to play – you can play the total ‘ditz’.”
Students in VIU's Theatre program take part in one production each semester, and get involved in every aspect of staging a play, from sets, costumes, sound and lighting, to acting, stage management and public relations.
The Servant of Two Masters runs March 5-7 and March 12-14 at 8 pm, with 12 pm matinees on March 11 and 12 and one 4 pm performance on March 10. Tickets are $12 for adults, and $10 for students and seniors, and can be reserved by calling the Theatre Box Office at 250.740.6100.
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Media Contact:
Shari Bishop Bowes, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University
P:250.740.6443 C: 250.618.1535 E: Communications@viu.ca
Tags: In the Community
