Williams' Night of the Iguana opens at CTA proscenium stage next week

Leigh Williams '00 as Hanna Jelkes, William Richert as the Rev. T. Lawrence Shannon, special guest reptile Yaro as the iguana and Kelly Ground as Maxine Faulk in the Center for Theatre Arts upcoming production of The Night of the Iguana, Nov. 18-20 and Dec. 2-4. University Photography

The Cornell Center for Theatre Arts brings one of Tennessee Williams' most compelling classics to its stage when The Night of the Iguana opens Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. in the proscenium theater. The original 1961 Broadway production won both a Drama Critics' Circle Award and a Tony Award for best play, and a film of the play garnered kudos for actors Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr and Richard Burton.

Set in a decaying Mexican hotel, the play focuses on the needs and desires that arise during interactions between a lusty, sex-starved widow, a wayward, defrocked clergyman and a gentle New England spinster. Thrown together by chance, these eclectic characters experience moments of compassion and despair against the ominous backdrop of a furious storm.

The Night of the Iguana brings a distinguished guest director to the Center for Theatre Arts. The former artistic director of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Bob Hall has been a guest director at Juilliard, the University of Virginia, Ithaca's Hangar Theater and at Cornell in 1974 and 1980. A playwright, scenic designer and member of the National Cartoonists Society, Hall has illustrated comics for Marvel and DC comics for the past 25 years. His drawings have appeared in Batman, Spiderman, Mighty Avengers and Thor, among others.

Kelly Ground vamps it up in the role of the temptress, made famous by Ava Gardner in the film of Iguana. William Richert is convincingly wayward as the minister gone astray -- played by Richard Burton in the movie. Dennis Fox and Mary Baird also play major roles. All four actors are resident professional teaching associates at Cornell this year. In addition, students Leigh Williams '00, Heidi Bretschger '01, Ross Paul '01 and Aimee Schultz '01 are featured in the production.

The Night of the Iguana will be performed at 8 p.m. Nov. 18, 19 and 20 and Dec. 2 and 4. There also will be a matinee at 2 p.m. Dec. 4. A discussion with members of the cast and production team follows the Dec. 2 performance.

Tickets for The Night of the Iguana are $9 for the public and $7 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the CTA Box Office Monday though Friday, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Call 254-ARTS for further ticket information.