Undergraduate Laura Napoli and Center for Theatre Arts Resident Professional Teaching Associate Christopher Sorensen are featured in The Lesson, one of two Ionesco plays opening Jan. 28 at the Center for Theatre Arts. Charles Harrington/University Photography
The Cornell Center for Theatre Arts will open the new year with two plays by the leading figure of absurdist theater, Eugene Ionesco. The Bald Soprano and The Lesson will be presented in the Black Box Theatre Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 through 8.
Ionesco was considered revolutionary when he wrote his first play, The Bald Soprano, in 1950 at the age of 41. A parody of a primer he purchased to learn conversational English, Ionesco's play imitates the banality of our language and everyday routines.
"It's unstoppably comic," said director Stephen Cole, associate professor of theatre arts. "At breakneck speed, it assaults our ability to communicate."
In The Lesson, language is used as a weapon in an eventually violent relationship between a teacher and his pupil. "The play is a strong triangle of power, sex and knowledge," said director Roger Bechtel, a graduate theatre student.
The Bald Soprano features performances by Cornell undergraduates Esther Arnold, Matthew Joslyn, Richard Kass and Joy Waldron. The Lesson highlights the acting talents of Heidi Bretschger as the pupil, Resident Professional Teaching Associate Christopher Sorensen as the professor and Laura Napoli as the maid.
The plays will be performed on the same evening with performances scheduled for Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 to Feb. 8 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 1, 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. A "Talk Back" session between the audience and members of the cast and production team will be held following the Feb. 5 performance.
Call or visit the box office in the Center for Theatre Arts, 430 College Ave., between 12:30 and 5:30 p.m., weekdays, or call 254-ARTS.
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