| February 16, 1996 | Release No. 302 Contact: Phyllis Graber Jensen 207-786-6330 (office) 207-784-6240 (home) |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
"Bingo" to be Staged at Bates
LEWISTON, Maine -- The last year in the life of William Shakespeare is the subject of a dramatic play to be staged at Bates College on March 7, 8 and 9 at 8 p.m., and on March 10 at 2 p.m. in the Schaeffer Theatre. Tickets are $6.
"Bingo," written in 1974 by British playwright Edward Bond, speculates on
how the great Bard's wealth and fame prevented him from fully loving both
family members and humanity. Directed by William Pope.L
"Bond has taken a revered superstar of the 17th century and imaginatively
re-examined his life as a lesson to all of us today," Pope.L said. "The story
is not about Shakespeare but about us and how we must not lose sight of what
is really important: people, not profits; children, not obedience; love, not
security."
Pope.L has set Bond's play between the 17th and 20th centuries. The
director considers Shakespeare "a 17th century Elvis, a successful superstar
who wakes up one day to find himself all dressed up with no place to go,"
Pope.L said.
The production will be set predominantly in Shakespeare's time with
resonant references to the 20th century, including a peasant rock 'n roll jam
about medieval Christianity and death.
The play features three senior theater majors at Bates: Gregory T. Arata of
Bangor as Old Man/Ben Jonson, Margaret Hopper of Brielle, N.J. as Judith and
Steven Young of Concord, Mass. as Shakespeare.
As a tribute to Lewiston's working class culture, Pope.L has re-worked and
included French-Canadian step-dance routines as an integral part of the play's
peasant culture. "I hope to provide the audience with an entertaining theater
experience which is adventurous, multi-cultural, timely and fun," he said.
William Matthews, of the Bates music department, has composed original
music for the production. Marcy Plavin, of the Bates theater department,
provides the choreography. Josh Williamson and Barbara Rodgers, both of the
theater department, provide the lighting and set design respectively. Jennifer
Moore '96 of Rindge, N.H. has designed the costumes.
For further information , call the box office at 207-786-6161.
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