'Moby Dick' at Raue Center
Go from page to stage as Raue Center for the Arts presents The Acting Company's acclaimed production of "Moby Dick Rehearsed," Orson Welles' stage adaptation of the classic novel by Herman Melville.
The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Raue Center's intimate Håkansson-Berg Theatre in Crystal Lake.
The Acting Company, based in New York City, has received the Obie Award, the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Citibank's Excellence in Education Award, two Audelco Awards and a Tony Award honor for excellence in theater.
Only a fool -- or perhaps a genius -- would adapt one of the greatest American novels for the stage. Orson Welles was a bit of both. Theater enthusiasts will love what Welles has created out of that most famous whale tale. Those who enjoy having their literature served up in delightful dramatic adaptations will find much to enjoy in this hybrid of Herman Melville's story, which has adapted to draw a parallel between and Captain Ahab and the title character in Shakepeare's "King Lear."
A troupe of actors abandon their rehearsal of a play about one unforgiving, vengeance-obsessed man, King Lear, to recreate another of the same emotional stripe -- Captain Ahab. Set in an empty theater, a tyrannical actor-manager leads his crew and transports audiences to Captain Ahab's fateful voyage across the open seas aboard the Pequod in search of the great white whale, Moby Dick.
Since its founding by the legendary John Houseman and Margot Harley in 1972, The Acting Company has performed 127 productions touring to 48 states and 10 foreign countries.
With the presentation of Welles' "Moby Dick Rehearsed," The Acting Company continues its 36-year tradition of bringing touring classical productions, talented young actors and teaching artists into communities across America.
For more information about The Acting Company's production of "Moby Dick Rehearsed," visit the Web site www.theactingcompany.org.
Tickets are $33 and $29. To buy a ticket by phone, call the Raue box office at (815) 356-9212.