PVA to Present Romantic Comedy, Love's Labour's Lost

Published: September 27, 2010 | Read Time: 3 minutes

Swearing off the company of women in favor of intellectual pursuits, a monarch and his lords’ plans go royally awry when a French princess and her ladies arrive on the scene in William Shakespeare’s timeless comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost. Southern Utah University’s College of Performing and Visual Arts presents the classic romantic comedy September 30-October 2 and October 8 and 9 at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre in Cedar City. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. for all performances. The production will be directed by Richard Bugg, Professor of Theatre Arts, and launches the 2010-2011 Theatre Arts and Dance Season.

One of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, Love’s Labour’s Lost centers on King Ferdinand of Navarre who decrees that he and his three young, noble lords forswear the distraction of women and devote themselves to intellectual studies. Not surprisingly, their reluctant scholarly pursuits are all but shattered with the arrival of the beautiful Princess of France, accompanied by three lovely ladies of her court. Soon, the lovesick men fall under the spell cast by the French beauties. Filled with multiple humorous subplots, this bittersweet, romantic play is replete with witty debates, dazzling wordplay, and strongly drawn comic characters.

Director Richard Bugg plans to put a refreshing contemporary spin on the Bard’s comedy. “We are taking a rather unique approach to the show by starting in a modern setting with production commentators (sort of like sports commentators) giving the audience a sort of pre-game or pre-show analysis of the players and the play.” Outlining his vision, Bugg continued, “We will see the modern actor come on stage and select costumes from different periods, garments that will fit the personality of the role that he or she will be playing. Gradually they will move into performing Shakespeare's words. However we will continue to have occasional commentary and observe the relationships on several levels: between the actors, the modern characters they play, and the characters they enact in the play within the play.”

Experience Love’s Labour’s Lost anew in what promises to be a joyous, fun-filled evening of romantic pursuits. Ticket prices are: $10 General Admission; $8 SUU Faculty and Staff, $5 Youth and free for SUU students with a valid ID. Money-saving season subscriptions are still available for the Theatre Arts and Dance Series (which includes all six events) at $48 for the General Public and $24 for a student/child.

The Theatre Arts and Dance Series includes Stephen Sondheim’s hilarious musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; Tennessee Williams’ classic American drama, The Glass Menagerie; Stephen Schwartz’s spirited musical, Godspell; Breaking Bounds: Student-Choreographed Dance Concert; and Journeys: Faculty-Choreographed Dance Concert.


ABOUT THE COLLEGE of Performing and Visual Arts

The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year.

The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespearean Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company.

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