Audiences love 'The Gypsy's Curse' |
| Posted by Administrator on Feb 27 2008 at 3:53 PM |
Kristen Brockman
Antelope Staff
The UNK theatre department performed "The Gypsy's Curse" for their winter production. The story is a melodrama written in the old style. The script was written in the 1930's by Charlotte Francis. Janice Fronczak, an associate professor of theatre, directed the performance. She chose the production after finding the script at Kearney Public Library. This is the first time that UNK has performed a melodrama.
"I read it and loved it," Fronczak said. "It's so old that it’s not even published anymore."
The melodrama format allows for an entertaining experience for both audience and cast. At various times throughout the show, action on stage would freeze and a character would address the audience in an aside, usually asking a question. Audience members were encouraged to not only react to, but answer the actor. According to Fronczak, there is still a serious tone to the play to offset the comedic moments.
"The actors play real people with real objectives," Fronczak said.
The plot of the story focuses on a brother and sister, Horatio and Hortense Lovelace, as they deal with their father's recent death. Horatio returns from college with an even bigger announcement, he's engaged! This does not settle well with his overprotective sister, especially when Mary, his fiancee, shows up with him. Danell Will, a senior, family studies major from Kearney, perfectly captured the stuck-up attitude of Hortense. Nate White, a freshman math education major from Pierre, S.D., and Jillian Parker, a sophomore musical theatre major from Goodland, Kan., made an attractive couple, portraying the sweet and innocent love of Horatio and Mary.
Things get more complicated when the sly Baron Wolfgang Von Schlemiel appears and immediately sets his sights on Mary. We learn about his villainous plans through asides to the audience. No matter how devious he might be; Ryan Hruza, a sophomore theatre major from Ord, was all comedian in his portrayal of the smarmy Wolfgang.
The youngest member of the cast was seventh grader Rosamond Thalken of Kearney. Thalken perfectly captured the frail innocence of her character, Little Patience. Thalken is no stranger to the UNK Department of Music and Performing Arts, her dad Todd plays piano for many of the Music department recitals. Although it is unusual to cast a young actor in a show, it is a great experience for everyone involved.
"We all learn together," Fronczak said. "It is a great way to bring the Kearney community into UNK theatre."
