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Play 4, 2010An Italian Straw Hatby Eugene Labichetranslated and adaptedby Maria Plumb and Rod Thompsondirected by Maria PlumbSeason Closed |
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A French farce with a jealous husband,
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The PlayOn the day of
his wedding, Fadinard, bright young man about town (Paris), In order to save the lady’s reputation, Fadinard,
with the help of his wedding party,
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The PlaywrightEugène Labiche originally studied law, but for an early
age began writing plays and other works. When he married, Labiche promised his wife's parents that he would renounce a profession considered incompatible with moral regularity and domestic happiness. A year later, his wife released him from his vow, and Labiche recalled the incident when he dedicated the first edition of his complete works to her. He contributed comic plays to various Paris theatres. He was considered a successful but undistinguished vaudevillist until the success of An Italian Straw Hat in August 1851. For the next twenty-five years, he continued to write successful
comedies on the same plan and containing a dose of comic observation and
good sense. |
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In 1877 he retired, but agreed to publish a collected and revised
edition of his works. They came to
ten volumes and were enthusiastically received.
Admirers have considered Labiche the equal of Molière. His plays
are more complex and less coarse than many other examples of French
farce. "Of all the subjects, which offered themselves to me, I have
selected the bourgeois. Essentially mediocre in his vices and in his
virtues, he stands half-way between the hero and the scoundrel, between
the saint and the profligate." | |
The Director and AdaptorMaria Plumb has been performing from the age of 6, when the nuns at Barcaldine Convent School had her learn speeches to welcome dignitaries on various occasions. She joined Villanova Players in 1962 and her first role was in Our Hearts Were Young and Gay. Since then she has performed in The Miracle Worker, Woman in a Dressing Gown, A Doll's House, Money and Friends, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and To Kill a Mockingbird. Her most recent role was as Lettice Douffet in Lettice and Lovage For Brisbane Arts Theatre she has performed in "Death of a Salesman", for Camerata "Old Times", and for Community Theatre Cabaret and An Italian Straw Hat. While on a working holiday in London, Maria studied acting at the Marian Naylor School, and directing at the City Literary Institute. Maria has directed Stage Door, Travelling North, Away, The Busybody ,Fresh Fields and most recently Dr Ox the Experiment. Maria was a reader and script development advisor for Playlab and Playlab Press for many years. Rod Thompson has been a member of the Players for 30 years, and has appeared in and directed quite a number of productions. Directions include: Harp in the South, Two Weeks with the Queen, Ten Times Table, Confusions and Dancing at Lughnasa. He has been seen on stage recently as the bigotted, racist, and ultimately successful prosecutor in To Kill a Mockingbird. He was also seen as the strolling accordion player in 'Allo, 'Allo. Rod collaborated with Maria Plumb to adapt and direct the classic Restoration comedy The Busybody, and has written Dr Ox: The Experiment, based on a story by Jules Verne. |
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Down load the poster for An Italian Straw hat here ! |
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