RIPON, Wis. –The Ripon College Theatre Department’s production of Tom Stoppard’s award-winning play “Arcadia” opens Feb. 27 and runs through March 1 in the Benstead Theatre of the C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
“Arcadia” sets up two contemporary researchers in an English country estate to discover the events from 200 years ago that may resolve an unanswered question about the famous and flamboyant Romantic poet, Lord Byron. The plot alternates between historic scenes of the early 19th century and contemporary ones in which the researchers defending their theories about what actually happened. The audience gets to see what really happened, then sees the scholars attempt to reconstruct the historic events to suit their personal theories. In both periods, love, sex, landscaping, mathematics and literature all swirl through the characters’ lives like irresistible cosmic forces.
The contemporary popular author, Hannah Jarvis (Amy Dorman ’08) is studying the landscaping history at Sidley Park estate and connecting those changes with the emerging style of Romanticism. Her work is interrupted by a flamboyant scholar, Bernard Nightingale (Matthew Farley ’11), who has ideas of his own about the value of what Hannah is uncovering in the historic mansion. The contemporary residents of the household, played by Preston Nelson ’09, Megan Captaine ’09 and Phillip Amsden are direct descendants of the lord, lady and family who lived on the estate in 1809. They are able to shed some light on the goings-on in the household of the past as the scholars squabble about whose theory is correct. The actors who play the characters from the 1800s are Paul Steffens ’10, Cady Cummings ’10, Ellen Dunphy ’09, Zac Mans ’09, Ed Krajewski ’09, Josh Aspland ’09 and Phillip Amsden. Josh Aspland has also written some original music for the production.
The play, which won the Olivier award in London (1993) and the Drama Critics’ Circle Award in New York (1995), features Stoppard’ signature witty dialogue and clever plot devices, but the critics agree that Stoppard shows us depth of character and emotional complexity that surpass some of the his other works. His most notable other plays are “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” (stage at Ripon in 1994 by Amsden) and “The Real Inspector Hound.”
Professor of Theatre Dr. Robert Amsden, the play's director, says that he has been “flirting” with doing this play for several years and knew that it would be a huge undertaking.
“But the rewards have been great. The cast has enthusiastically taken up the cause of learning about the literature, the literary figures and the math to motivate their characters to discuss topics with passion. One night at rehearsal, the cast determined that every discipline in the liberal arts college was included in the play.
“I always thought this is a great play for a college campus, since the ideal of the stimulated mind is a foundation for the script. It should interest every student and professor on campus,” he said.
Amsden says the audience can expect the wit and energy of a comedy of manners, like in Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” and a connection of our own lives to a grander plan in nature as one might find in Shakespeare.
Costume designer Susan Hill is thrilled to be working on the show because Jane Austen (1775-1817) is one of her favorite authors and to make and select the period costumes is a labor of love. Ken Hill is the scenery and property designer and co-sound designer, Maggie Hall (’08) is the co-sound designer and Aaron Sherkow is the lighting designer and technical director.
The play involves sexual innuendo and occasional foul language and is not suitable for children under 14.
For more information or ticket reservations, please call 920-748-8378. Tickets are free, but reservations are recommended. The seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
About Ripon College
Ripon College, founded in 1851, prepares students of diverse interests for lives of productive, socially responsible citizenship. Ripon’s liberal arts curriculum and residential campus create an intimate learning community in which students experience a richly personalized education. Ripon has consistently been recognized as a “best value” and “Best 366 College” by The Princeton Review, a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s, a “Best Liberal-Arts College” by Washington Monthly, and is listed among the 160 best schools in the nation by Colleges of Distinction. |
