U of L staging landmark play ‘Ubu Roi’
PLAY WRITTEN IN 1896 IS STILL TIMELY TODAY
It’s absurd. The French farce “Ubu Roi” sparked a riot when it opened in 1896 — and it was promptly closed.
Since then it’s been repeatedly translated — and banned — in many nations. In Toronto in 2014, it was adapted to become “Ubi Mayor,” parodying Mayor Rob Ford and his brother, Doug. Last year, an American rewrite focused on the 2016 presidential election.
“It’s a very timely piece,” says director Jay Whitehead.
Here in Lethbridge, audience members — Oct. 3 to 7 — will be free to think of their own villains. The landmark play was placed on the University of Lethbridge schedule about a year ago, the drama professor notes, but it couldn’t be more current.
“It’s a satiric, absurdist play,” Whitehead says, and it became a precursor of many absurdist dramas written in the 20th century.
“I wanted to do something that is immersive and very physical,” he explains.
For lead actors Corey Ariss and Shea Heatherington, backed by an ensemble cast, the physical challenges include performing in a theatre-in-the-round situation with little in the way of set or costuming.
Sceneographer Lee Burckes has the cast using almost all of the theatre’s stage, with audience members seating on bleachers around its edges. The story is told through physical action and lighting.
The Alfred Jarry script, set by the author “in Poland or nowhere,” has become an international icon. Replete with memories of “Macbeth,” “King Lear” and “Hamlet,” it’s the story of someone gaining power and then heading for destruction.
The playwright’s words were just one of the elements that stirred the audience revolt, Whitehead notes. The leading characters are Papa Turd and Mama Turd.
Papa leads a revolution and kills the king of Poland. Then the dead monarch’s ghost calls for revenge, causing King Turd to start killing the citizens and stealing their money.
Next, he pits Poland in a war with mightly Russia.
And then his wife grabs the money and escapes to find her husband in Russia — where he’s just been attacked by a bear. Could things get any worse? From their ringside seats, audience members will attempt to keep up with the story’s twists and turns. For a little distraction, Whitehead says there’s also music and song.
Tickets for the limited-seating presentation are available online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets or by phone at 403-329-2616. They’re priced at $18 (regular), $15 for seniors and alumni, $12 for students.
Showtime, Tuesday through Saturday, is 7:30 p.m.
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I wanted to do something that is immersive and very physical. – Jay Whitehead– director of “Ubu Roi”