Tomorrow’s Comedy Stars

[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 3, No. 2  12 May - 9 June 2008 ]

Two fast-moving bitter-sweet comedies of love, jealousy and mirthful confusion will be presented by University of Melbourne Victorian College of the Arts Drama and Production students in productions opening at the VCA next week.

The Fan by Carlo Goldoni and The Feigned Inconstancy by Marivaux are sharp works – both hilarious satires and the forerunners of current era situation comedies. Audiences can expect mayhem and intrigue around every corner in these two classics performed by the next generation of Australia’s actors.

The theme of The Fan is the merest trifle. A fan is dropped by a young lady as she rises to answer the greetings of a young man and thus is woven a web of jealousies, rivalries and misunderstandings, until everyone in the little town of Case Nuove is involved.

Carlo Goldoni captures all human types, motives and caricatures in this delightful, lively comedy of village life and loves. In The Feigned Inconstancy, the pain felt by characters, as much as the pain they inflict, is the touchstone of true love.

Marivaux’s merciless wit shows us Dorante and the Marquise as they hatch a plan to pretend to be in love in order to punish their respective, fickle lovers, the Countess and the Captain. When their plan backfires all four characters learn that in love the one rule that matters is: No Acting Allowed.

Guest directors Gary Down and David Wicks bring a contemporary energy to the wit of two playwrights who have brought laughter to centuries of theatregoers.

Gary Down directed the VCA’s 2007 hit The Venetian Twins.

Comedy is incorporated in the VCA Drama curriculum to give actors a sense of being ridiculous in their seriousness. This is a rare opportunity to see these seldom-staged plays by two master comedic writers.

Students working on the two productions are from undergraduate years 1, 2 and 3 and postgraduate.

VCA Production students gain experience by way of studio and project practice and peer learning across the broad span of work mounted by the VCA as well as external productions. Graduates have gone on to develop careers as skilled artists/technicians in the performing industry in areas including set, costume, lighting and sound design, workshop, wardrobe, stage management and puppetry.

The Fan by Carlo Goldoni, directed by Gary Down, 7.30pm Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 and Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 May; and 2pm Saturday 24 May. Venue: Space 28, VCA Drama, 28 Dodds Street, Southbank.

The Feigned Inconstancy by Pierre Marivaux, directed by David Wicks, 8pm Tuesday 20 to Saturday 24 and Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 May; and 2pm Saturday 24 May. Venue: PS1, VCA Drama, 28 Dodds Street, Southbank.

Tickets $20 Full, $12 Concession. Enquiries 9685 9225. Bookings vca-drama@unimelb.edu.au