Category Archives: On Stage

TARTUFFE and TWELFTH NIGHT
Xenia Area Community Theatre
May 23-June 2
[Xenia]

TARTUFFE
Directed by Connie Strait

Cast: John Wysong as Orgon, Allie Dyer as Dorine, Kyle Mercuri as Tartuffe, Nathan Hudson as Cleant, Janet Wasson as Elmire, Dawn Schluetz as Mme. Pernelle, Amanda Bass as Marianne, Patrick Taylor as Damis, Matthew Benefiel as Valere, Franco Villongco as M. Loyal, Brian Laughlin as Police Officer & Edith Waugh as Flipote

First performed in 1664, it is considered one of Moliere’s best comedies. The story of a man who falls prey to misplaced adoration.  Controversial and popular from the time of its release, Moliere’s Tartuffe remains a biting satire aimed at religious hypocrisy. When the kind, yet dim, Orgon invites the religious zealot known as Tartuffe into his home, he has no idea that he has accepted a snake into his den. While Tartuffe acts like a kind minister, he is — in fact — a con man plotting to rob Orgon of everything he holds dear! While Orgon becomes hopelessly entranced by Tartuffe and plans to give him his only daughter’s hand in marriage, his family rallies to expose Tartuffe for the rascal that he is. Will they be able to save the hapless Orgon from Tartuffe’s clutches? It may take an act of fake seduction– and an obvious Deus ex Machina — to help defeat this lascivious hypocrite.

TWELFTH NIGHT
Directed by Tony Copper

Cast: Betsy Benefiel as Viola, Edith Waugh as Captain, Matthew Benefiel as Count Orsino, Tobey McKee as Valentine, John Wysong as Sir Toby Belch, Janet Wasson as Maria, Franco Villongco as Sir Andrew Aquecheek, Patrick Taylor as Feste, Allie Dyer as Countess Olivia, Brian Laughlin as Malvolio, Carter Hume as Sebastian, Kyle Mercuri as Antonia & Edith Waugh as Fabiana

Viola has been shipwrecked in a violent storm off the coast of Illyria; in the process she has lost her twin brother, Sebastian. She disguises herself as a boy and assumes the name Cesario for protection. Thus disguised, Viola becomes a page in the service of Orsino, the Duke, whom she falls in love with. Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia, and sends Viola to court her for him, but Olivia falls for Viola instead.

• Thu, May 23 at 6:30pm (Gala fundraiser) [T]
• Fri, May 24 at 6:30pm (Gala fundraiser) [TN]
• Sat, May 25 at 7:30pm [T]
• Sun, May 26 at 3pm [TN]
• Thu, May 30 at 7:30pm [TN]
• Fri, May 31 at 7:30pm [T]
• Sat, June 1 at 7:30pm [TN]
• Sun, June 2 at 3pm [T]

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