GRANVILLE, Ohio—Denison University Theatre will present “Theatres of War,” a prize-winning comedy written and directed by Peter Pauzé, associate professor of theatre, at 8 p.m. from Thursday, Nov. 8, thru Saturday, Nov. 10, and Monday, Nov. 12, thru Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Ace Morgan Theater (211 West Broadway). Tickets are $8 for general admission, $5 for senior citizens, and $4 for students. For information, visit www.denison.edu and for reservations, contact the box office at 740-587-6527.
“The basic metaphor that drives this comedy is that war is much like a theatre play,” says Pauzé. In both theatre and war the players are directed by a host of people behind the scenes. Pauzé set his play in the ruins of a French boutique during the fighting of World War Two and in various other places and times. The hero is Duncan, a fatally wounded soldier, wondering how he ended up there. Cheerful advice and passionate opinions on the subject are offered by a variety of helpful sources, including Duncan’s dead parents, his never-to be-conceived daughter and historical characters ranging from Hitler to Lincoln.
Pauzé cites Martin Luther: “The best way to drive out the devil is to mock and ridicule him, for he cannot bear scorn.” He adds, “It’s one thing to respect the human beings who sacrifice themselves (or are sacrificed in spite of themselves) in time of war; it’s quite another to respect and venerate and glorify war itself.” His play aims to remind us that war isn’t just tragic or immoral or evil; war is also ridiculous and deserves to be ridiculed.
Appearing as Duncan is sophomore Jacob Betts from Bryan, Ohio. Others in the cast are seniors Skyler Jordan from Gahanna, Ohio and Hillary Maloney from Pittsburgh, Pa.; junior Pearson Handley from Bristol, R.I.; sophomores Merlin Bell from St. Louis and Will Brackenbury from Cincinnati; and first-year students Jeremy Hollis from Montgomery Village, Md., Maggie Jones from Elkins, W.V., Seth Mendel from University Heights, Ohio, Kate Ramsdell from Reisterstown, Md., and Evan Woodnorth from Whitefish Bay, Wisc. Senior Alexis Gothberg from Rye, N.Y. is the assistant director and senior Hongyi Tian from Xi’an, China is the production stage manager.
Associate professor Cynthia Turnbull is designing the costumes and assistant professor/technical director Andrew Johns is designing the lighting and sound. Vail Artists-in-Residence for the production, both from Cincinnati, are Chad Weddle as fight choreographer and Julia Guichard as vocal coach.
Calendar Listing:
CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University Theatre, Granville—“Theatres of War” at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, through Saturday, Nov. 10, and Monday, Nov. 12, through Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Ace Morgan Theater (211 West Broadway). Tickets are $8 for general admission, $5 for senior citizens, and $4 for students. For information, visit www.denison.edu and for reservations, contact the box office at 740-587-6527.
About Denison:
Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.
