Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 00:28:54 EDT
From: Marlowe Project <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: PERFORM - Medieval Performing Arts <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
upcoming performances of medieval plays
The Marlowe Project
P.O. Box 090039
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11209-0001
(212) 465-7428
September 20, 2000
Contact: 212 465 7428
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-THREE BIBILICAL PLAYS from the MIDDLE AGES from The
Marlowe Project
The Marlowe Project and the Arts Ministry of Church for All Nations are
pleased to announce its upcoming production of three medieval plays based
on
Biblical stories. The performances will take place at Church for All
Nations, located at 417 West 57th Street.
All three plays have been adapted into modern English from their original
Middle English or French texts. While medieval drama is often studied in
college literature classes, this is a rare opportunity to see performances
of
these plays.
The performance schedule is as follows:
Thursday, November 2 at 8 PM
Friday, November 3 at 9 PM
Saturday, November 4 at 8 PM
Sunday, November 5 at 2 PM
Thursday, November 9 at 8 PM
Friday, November 10 at 9 PM
Saturday, November 11 at 8 PM
The three plays to be performed are:
The Woman Taken in Adultery
Based on John 8: 3-11, this play tells the story of Jesus' compassion and
the
hypocrisy of accusers. Taken from one of the great Corpus Christi cycles,
this is one of the great gems of medieval English theatre.
The Conversion of Saint Paul
The anonymous playwright of this work has infused considerable humor (and a
pair of comic demons) into this drama which illustrates the story of Paul
from his beginnings as a persecutor of Christians through his conversion
and
the perils he later undertook. This rarely performed (though often
studied)
play survives in a single manuscript, called the Digby Codex. The play
contains a number of elements later found in the works of Shakespeare, and
an
astute observer will find textual and situational precursors to A Midsummer
Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Macbeth.
The Prodigal Son
This famous story, found in Luke 15: 11-32, was relocated by a twelfth
century writer to France. The play is also known as Courtois d'Arras,
which
is the name the anonymous playwright gave the errant son who receives
forgiveness from his father. The audience gets to observe first-hand
Courtois' debauchery and see his redemption. This is a funny and moving
drama.
The production is directed by the Marlowe Project's artistic director, Jeff
Dailey. The Marlowe Project was founded five years ago to perform early
English drama, especially that of Christopher Marlowe. Recent productions
include performances of Marlowe's Doctor Faustus, The Massacre at Paris and
The Second Shepherd's Play.
The Friday evening performances will be at 9 PM, after the weekly concert
in
the Midtown Music Series at the Church for All Nations. The concerts begin
at 7 PM, and the public is cordially invited. For information about the
Midtown Music Series, contact Heitor Caballero at (212) 333-5583.
Tickets for the Three Biblical Plays are $10.00. A special group rate of
$7.00 is offered to schools, churches and other organizations who order at
least ten tickets and pay in advance. For reservations, contact the
Marlowe
Project at (212) 465-7428.
The Church for All Nations is located on the north side of 57th Street,
between 9th and 10th Avenues in Manhattan. It accessible to the A, B, C
and
D subway lines, exit at Columbus Circle, 59th Street, and the 57th Street
station on the N and R lines.
###
--
Abigail Ann Young (Dr), Associate Editor/Records of Early English Drama/
Victoria College/ 150 Charles Street W/ Toronto Ontario Canada
Phone (416) 585-4504/ FAX (416) 813-4093/ [log in to unmask]
List-owner of REED-L <http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed-l.html>
<http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/reed.html> REED's home page
<http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~reed/stage.html> our theatre resource page
<http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~young> my home page
