CLC Theatre presents classic French comedy 'The Miser'
"The Miser" by Molière will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27 and 28, and Thursday through Saturday, March 5-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 1, by the College of Lake County Theatre Department.
In addition, a daytime performance will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 6, for high school and college groups. Performances will be held in the Studio Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake.
This classic French farce centers on Harpagon, who loves nothing as much as money and status, not even his own children. When his son falls in love with the beautiful but penniless Mariane, and his daughter promises to wed a young man of unknown parentage, drastic measures must be taken.
Meanwhile, scheming servants and assorted hustlers plot to steal Harpagon's incredible fortune, which is buried in the backyard. Packed with all the plot twists and outrageous revelations one would expect from Molière, "The Miser" stands as one of the great comic masterpieces of all time.
Director Scott Mullins said that audiences are in for lots of fun.
"The new adaptation by James Magruder is very modern in terms of dialogue, with cultural references people will get. It's filled with the bawdiness, silliness and mistaken identities that is Molière's stock and trade," he said.
"It's a very different kind of production for the cast, using stylized acting that you don't get an opportunity to do all the time unless you work in TV sitcoms."
"The Miser" cast features Colin Kovarik of Mundelein as Harpagon; Cody Summers of Lindenhurst as Cleante; Jazmine Tamayo of Antioch as Elise; Philip Bartnicki of Zion as Valere; Estelle Desante of Lille, France as Mariane; Joey Chelmecki of Antioch as Frosine; Jennifer Nelson of Lindenhurst as Master Jacques North; Rory Homeward of Gurnee as La Fleche, Dame Claude and Seigneur Anselme; and Joshua Hines of Chicago as the Commissioner, Maitre Simon and Brindaluche.
The stage manager is Amanda Barth of Trevor, Wisconsin.
An authentic addition to the cast is Estelle Desante of Lille, France, who took Mullins' acting class last fall.
"Estelle works as an au pair in the area. She came into class and was just terrific, with natural ability, despite never having acted on stage. And although it's a French play, we're not doing it in French dialects; rather we're using a variety of dialects, both American and European, for the greatest comedic effect," he said.
Tickets are $9 for regular admission, $7 for CLC students and staff, seniors, teens and JLC Subscribers (does not include $2 JLC facility fee). Other fees may apply to Internet purchases. A special buy one, get one free ticket offer is available for the Feb. 27 and March 5 performances.
The Box Office is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to each performance. Call (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. Groups of six or more people are eligible for discounted ticket prices. Call group sales at (847) 543-2431 or email JLCgroupsales@clcillinois.edu for more information.