Molière’s comedy “The Learned Ladies” to play at StetsonU

Mary Anne Rogers February 9, 2016
Learned Ladies
The Learned Ladies
Henriette (Grace Aguda, left) declares her intention to follow her heart’s desire in spite of her mother’s (Amelia Vaughan as Philaminte) strong objections in The Learned Ladies. Photo by Ken McCoy, Ph.D., professor of theatre arts.

Stetson University will present the classic comedy The Learned Ladies, Feb. 18-20, at 8 p.m., and Feb. 21, at 3 p.m., at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre. This is located inside the Museum of Art, 600 N. Woodland Boulevard, adjacent to the DeLand campus.

This classic French comedy of manners by French dramatist Molière, takes great delight in ridiculing upper class society along with their pretentious desire to appear more educated than everyone else. It is a play full of exaggerated characters that sets a new standard for foolishness.

In this rambunctious comedy, Clitandre seeks the hand of Henriette, a match heartily approved of by her father, Chrysale. However, his wife, Philaminte, has other plans for her younger daughter—namely marriage to Trissotin, a ridiculous fool who panders to Philaminte’s intellectual pretensions. Needless to say the course of true love does not run smoothly; but happily, all is set right in the end, with hypocrisy exposed and true love made triumphant.

“Working on this play has truly been transformative,” says director Julie Schmitt, Ph.D., associate professor of theatre arts. She continued by commenting on how “the sets and costumes have transported us to another time and place, and the performers have worked so hard to transform themselves from head to toe into Neo-Classical characters.”

Everyone is invited to experience the comedic escapades of these outrageous characters and enjoy the beauty of the set and costumes that bring a 17th century Parisian salon to life.

The cast includes Austin Scott as Chrysale, Amelia Vaughan as Philaminte, Erin Foster as Armande, Grace Aguda as Henriette, Bronte Joseph as Ariste, Kerry Lynch as Belise, Anders Hammerstrom as Clitandre, Nick Bouwmans as Trissotin, Vasili Loparnos as Vadius, Lily Desenberg as Martine, Jodi Cothron as Lepine, Honor Woodward as Julien, and Cori Lapinsky as the Notary. (Loparnos, the self-proclaimed “poet extraordinaire,” is pictured on Stetson Today’s front page, with Vaughan as Philaminte. Photo by McCoy.)

Performances will take place Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 18, 19 and 20, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m.

Ticket prices are as follows: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and non-Stetson students. Stetson students, staff and faculty are admitted free with a valid Stetson ID.

For more information or reservations, please call Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre Arts box office at (386) 822-8700.

Learn more about Theatre Arts at Stetson University by visiting the Creative Arts Department. For all university events, check out Stetson’s online calendar on Stetson Today.