The Commedia show is something you do not want to miss! A brilliant troupe of ten actors, along with stage manager Shannon Rourke and director Daniel Rairdin-Hale have been working since the first week of February to learn the art of Commedia Dell'Arte. They will perform the show this month!
This group is an amazing ensemble and have worked really hard together. There isn't a storyline yet because the creation/training stage of this process is so important. But we can tell you that the story will have stock characters like the greedy old man Pantalone; the full-of-himself-solider Capitano; four absent-minded lovers; and the trickster Arlechinno, just to name a few.
There will be improv, music, sword fighting, juggling, mask work, and dance. These past couple months, the troupe has been taking gymnastics classes at Tumble Time. They've been mastering somersaults, cartwheels, round-offs, handstands, back handsprings, and more. Many of the cast members have been amazed at what they didn't know their bodies could do. The first day, most were hopeful to learn a cartwheel, and now many cast members can walk on their hands! It's been an incredible learning experience. They have also been learning how to act with masks and create lazzis (short scenes between 2-3 people.) Rairdin-Hale made all the masks and they look unbelievably cool. The actors have been able to make these masks come alive and use their bodies to create characters.
Dylan Rairdin, (Hale's brother-in-law) wrote music arrangements that the cast will play and sing during the show. Some play guitar, some play trombone, and some now play the tambourine. Rairdin-Hale also taught the cast how to juggle, and each of the cast members can now do at least one "jug." Many other cast members can already do tricks and juggle with a partner! A few of the cast members who will sword fight during the show also have been trained how to do stage combat with a rapier.
The troupe can also be seen running as a group around Vander Veer Park and doing Rairdin-Hale's actor workout (arm circles and all). The beautiful, period costumes are being created by the equally-beautiful Dianne Dye; the set is being designed by Kris Eitrheim; and senior Meghan McLaughlin - with help from sophomore Helene Devine - have been finding and building the props.
The troupe is comprised of:
Meghan Cessna, junior playing Brighella
Amelia Fischer, junior playing Capitano
Jackson Green, sophomore playing Pantalone
Alexis Greene, senior playing Isabella
Sam Jones, sophomore playing Dottore
Kayla Lansing, first year playing Flaminia
Nevada Nilsson, first year playing Oratio
Rachael Pribulsky, sophomore playing Colombina
Daniel Rairdin-Hale, director and acting as an additional museum (He's playing the accordion!)
Shannon Rourke, junior who is the stage manager and playing an additional zanni
Brooke Schelly, senior playing Arlechinno
Vince Solis, junior playing Silvio
Come see Commedia on St. Ambrose University's Allaert Auditorium stage in the Galvin Fine Arts Center Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. For tickets call the Galvin Box Office at 563-333-6251. Ticket cost is $11 adults, $9 faculty/staff/alumni/senior citizens, $7 non-SAU students, $6 groups, SAU students with current valid student ID are free.
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