The Madwoman of Chaillot Directed by Rachel Harry

by Talon Staff Reporter Elizabeth Bricker

For viewers that enjoy entertaining theater starring  The Madwoman of Chaillot premiers in The Bowe Theater on Friday, the 27th of February at 7pm. The show dates are the 27th and 28th of February, the 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th of March at 7pm and at 2pm on the 1st.

The Madwoman of Chaillot is a “satirical comedy drama” about a little community in Paris. A big corporation comes into town  and decides to drill oil under the street, without regard to the livelihood of the people who live there, and business owners. The countess Aurelia, an eccentric resident of Paris, is determined to stop the drilling with the help of her fellow outcasts and madwomen.

The play is appropriate for all audiences, so children are welcome. Director Rachel Harry comments on the parts of the show the audience will enjoy, “the humor, the wit, the power of the language, the visual spectacle of the play- its stunning, huge bright colors, huge set.”

When asked if the play was as political as last year’s Does My Head Look Big in This, Harry replies, “This is very political. I would say most of my selection of plays have to do with my philosophy on life. And that includes politics because politics is a philosophy- as far as I’m concerned. It’s very much intertwined with your philosophical approach to life. And this is very concerned with the little people and not letting the big corporations squash us, because that is exactly what happens in the play. The presidents and CEOs of this company are trying to exploit a street in paris, and rip it up and extract the oil. And they don’t care about what happens to all the people, the peddlers, and the street singer. I have very strong feelings about that.”

Harry is planning on directing the fall musical, and is currently in the processes of getting the royalties and rights to the show she wants before she can announce it. She says she will be collaborating with the new music director.

Sophomore Emma Dexter, a Madwoman in the show, says everyone should come see it, because it is amazing and funny, and that the audience will enjoy all of the cheesy characters.

Freshman Elizabeth Bailey says, “ the show is interesting to see and all the actors are great.” Her overall experience of being in the show can be described as “tired” and “really fun”.  She says that much like fall musical Into The Woods, it’s confusing the first time you watch it, so she recommends going twice for full comprehension. “ I learn something new everyday. I’ll be watching it and I’ll be like, oh, that’s why that happens, I had no idea.”

Come see The Madwoman of Chaillot for a great time and lots of laughs.