Prairie Center presents Spoon River Anthology Jan. 17
On Sunday, Jan. 17, "Spoon River Anthology" will be performed at 2 p.m. in the lecture hall of the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court in Schaumburg.
The centennial anniversary of Edgar Lee Masters' groundbreaking anthology is commemorated in this fresh adaptation starring actors Paddy and Jon Lynn with folk singer Patti Ecker.
Causing a sensation with its frankness about sex, moral decay and hypocrisy, the collection of over 200 interconnected free verse epitaphs focuses on former residents of the fictitious town of Spoon River, who come forward from their graves to tell the truth about their lives. The uproar that this book created because of its unique free verse style and its portrayal of characters with blunt, brutal honesty caused a scandal upon its debut. As a result, it was banned from the Spoon River area schools and libraries until 1974.
The stories capture all aspects of life - irony, comedy, failure, success. These dramatized monologues will not only reflect on the life and times of those living in 1915, but also offer universal lessons to Illinoisans living today.
This performance is presented through the Illinois Humanities Councils' Road Scholar program.
Tickets for the "Spoon River Anthology" are $10 and can be ordered online at www.prairiecenter.org or by calling (847) 895-3600.