|
News Release EVENT NEWS / November 18, 2008 Speak of the Devil! Boise State English Majors Association, Medieval Drama Guild Present 'Hell's Bells' in December The Boise State University English Majors Association and the Medieval Drama Guild are joining forces to bring four demonic tales to life in “Hell’s Bells” at 2 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Student Union Special Events Center. Admission is $6 general, $4 students and seniors at the door or by visiting Liberal Arts Building Room 228. The four plays presented in “Hell’s Bells” explore medieval notions of evil, challenging audiences to consider their own ideas about how it manifests and how it can be combated. In medieval productions, the devil and demons almost always are ludicrous representations, shocking modern audiences with the juxtaposition of broad humor and serious religious concepts. For medieval audiences, however, humor did not diminish the importance of the subject. The four plays are: • “The Last Judgment” is a 15th century mystery play in which the demon Tutivillus cracks jokes as he gathers sinners. • In “Soul Food,” an actor who has been playing the role of the devil frightens some poachers and then has difficulty returning the loot to its owners. • “The Knight and the Devil” is a 13th century Galician-Portuguese cantiga sung to a lively melody about how a knight who has lost his wealth vows to serve the devil, but is rescued from the bad contract. • “The Lady Prioress” is about a woman who tricks her unwanted suitors by sending them to a chapel where a dead man comes to life and a demon attacks. The Medieval Drama Guild focuses on entertainment in community. Students in the medieval drama class partner with the English Majors Association and community actors and musicians, including Virelai des Bois musicians Aage Nielsen, Corey McKnight and Gail Vaughan, who bring power and intensity to the plays through the versatile and complex music of the era. Director James Orr, drama teacher at Meridian Crossroads Middle School, brings extensive experience reshaping medieval material to make it accessible for modern audiences. Sponsors include Tommy Motorsports, the Boise State Department of English, the Boise State College of Arts and Sciences, Virelai des Bois, Solar Concepts, Hollingsworth Chiropractic and Vic and Janine Jaro. The Medieval Drama Guild was formed in 1989 to bring together the university and the community in recreating medieval entertainment for modern audiences. The group consists of members of the community and the broader university along with students in the Medieval Drama class. Headed by Boise State medievalist Dr. Linda Marie Zaerr, the Medieval Drama Guild mingles drama and music in the exciting and often surprising theatrical productions of the Middle Ages. The productions are held every two years. For more information, contact Linda Marie Zaerr at 426-1213 or visit http://english.boisestate.edu/lzaerr/hellsbells.htm. -30- Media Contact: Julie Hahn, University Communications, (208) 426-5540, juliehahn@boisestate.edu Boise State University is “The New U Rising” with record student enrollment, new academic buildings, additional degree programs and a growing research agenda. Learn more at www.boisestate.edu.
Last reviewed on Monday, December 01, 2008
|
|
|