Independent Players to put on Dumas' 'Camille'
Editor's note: The Independent Players are postponing the opening weekend of "Camille" due to a case of COVID in the cast. It will open Friday, March 10, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 10-19.
Independent Players will present one of the greatest and well-known love stories in dramatic literature and film with Alexandre Dumas fils' "La Dame aux Camelias" (commonly known as "Camille") for three weekends in March.
Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 10-18, and 2 p.m. Sundays, March 12 and 19, at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., eighth floor, Elgin.
Based on Dumas' 1848 novel, an immediate sensation at the time, he soon adapted La Dame aux Camillias into a play which premiered on Feb. 2, 1852 at the Theatre du Vaudeville. Subsequently, in the years since it first appeared, countless famous actresses have chosen to take on the challenge of the main role.
"La Dame aux Camellias," set in mid-19th century France, is semi-autobiographical and based on the author's brief love affair with a courtesan, Marie Duplessis. Marguerite Gautier is a courtesan suffering from consumption, and Armand Duval, is a young middle class Frenchman. He falls in love with her and soon becomes her lover. He convinces her to leave her present life and live with him in the country. Their existence is soon interrupted by Armand's father. He is concerned with the scandal created by their relationship, and fearing that this will jeopardize Armand's sister's chances of marriage, he convinces Marguerite to leave Armand forever. Armand believes she has left him for another man, the Count de Giray. In the end, Armand arrives at her side as she is dying, surrounded by her friends, and pledges to love her forever.
This world renowned drama has be played worldwide and at least 20 films have been made to date. As far as can be determined, the play has not been done on stage in the Elgin area for over 50 years.
Since Independent Players loves to go back in time and resurrect a classic work each season, most of those it has done in recent years have been comedies and lighter works. Camille is a chance to do a serious classic which has not been done here before (at least not since Independent Players was founded in 1978). It is a play which Independent Players believes will appeal to its audience primarily based on the fact that it continues to be produced in numerous places all over the world
The cast, includes a number of regulars, but it also includes several new faces. In alphabetical order, members of the cast are: Steve Connell, Steve Delaney, Trace Gamache, Karen Greuel, Travis Greuel, Matt Hordyke, Mathias Mapes, Gabor Mark, Jim Pierce, Laura Schaefer, Jay Steinke, Rebecca Stellato, and Dana Udelhoven.
Doors open 30 minutes before curtain time. Tickets are $20 or $15 for seniors and students. For phone reservations, call (847) 697-7374. Tickets at the door are cash or check only. Visit independentplayers.org.