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Androcles and the LionAn Old Fable
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7:00 pm shows:Friday, July 30Saturday, July 31 Sunday, August 1 Thursday, August 19 Saturday, August 28 Matinees:Saturday, July 31, 11:00 amSaturday, August 21, 11:00 am Sunday, August 29, 3:00 pm Complete Schedule
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Androcles and his wife, Megeara, are in the forest when they come upon a lion. Androcles pulls a thorn from the Lion's paw (just like in the fable) and they dance. Later, Androcles (under duress) joins a group of doomed Christians headed for the Roman arena.
At least one of the soldiers escorting the group has a slight crush on Lavinia, one of the doomed Christians, and tries to get her to save her life by indulging in a little hypocrisy. Mostly, the Christians stick together, although the Romans have some pretty convincing arguments. Eventually they all wind up at the arena, where they face gladiators, a (somewhat) randomly selected and hungry lion, and the truth about their personal belief systems. There are no drawing rooms in this comedy. |
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| who should see this play: | All ages. Especially people who enjoy Shaw's style of dialogue, animal lovers, and people who like seeing actors portraying animals (in this case, a lion). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| who shouldn't see this play: | People who don't want to have fun, or who feel violent when their beliefs are challenged. I'm sure that's not you. You should come see the play. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| theme of the play | Either separation of church and state, or "Lions are fierce and cute". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| first produced: | 1913 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| current publisher: | Penguin Books | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| length of Shaw's preface: | 101 pages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| length of the play: | 42 pages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| length of Shaw's epilogue: | 4.5 pages | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| director: | Shawn Girdham, a recent graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where he studied dance and theatre. He also directed "Alice All The Way" a few years ago. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| producer: | Ann Marie Thomas, a local singer and web developer. She sang in "Macbeth" and "Skull Treasure Pirate Mountain Island" recently. Look for her in Long Leaf Opera's upcoming production of "Down in the Valley" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| producer's reason for choosing this play: | The forest theatre works really well as a coliseum, a roman highway, and a forest. Plus I couldn't stop laughing when I read the play. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| producer's most-remembered quote from the play: | "Yes, kissums Andy Wandy. Velvet paws! Velvet paws!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| stage managers: | Cheree Sager, who is a UNC drama student, and Annette Watlington, a local artist. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| costumer: | Lisa Bastt, who has worked on "The Bacchae" and shows for Jelly Educational Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| set designers: | Justin Arkles, who has worked on many Somnambulist Project shows and is technical director for this festival, and Jennifer Roberts, who recently moved here from Ohio and works as a chemist | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| props designer: | Jason Morningstar, who recently returned to Chapel Hill after an extended stay in Alaska | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shawn Girdham, the director, says:Back in the saddle, I'm directing another play for CHASF.This time it's Shaw and Shaw in mad. Not angry, but cuckoo, in a good way, in a great way. The play is "Androcles and the Lion", and it's chock full of Romans and Christians and a lion and soldiers and gladiators and a lot of Shaw's uncanny wit. This is a play for Gramps and baby and everyone in between. I won't tell you too much of the story because you must see it (or at least read it), but let me tell you this: the Christians are taken to be killed in the coliseum, where many strange and wonderful things happen to them. Oh yeah, there is the whole thorn in the lion's paw story, which is fun. Deep language, strong characters, humor, lovely picturesque staging and a positive storyline (as far as Shaw goes) make for a wonderful day at the theater. So come and see it because you're a George Bernard Shaw fan, or if you're a Christian, or if you're a theater goer, or if you're bored, or if you just need a friend, because I'll be there and I'm your friend (I'll be the guy in the gorilla suit). Have a good summer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Produced by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.