Rhinoceros
Ionesco’s most renowned play Rhinoceros, was written in 1959 in response to the resurfacing of fascism in parts of Europe. But more importantly, Ionesco wrote it as an attack on something that troubled him greatly: social conformity. He had witnessed this strange malady in people regardless of their social class or political beliefs. This play is on one level very simple: The inhabitants of a French town in the 1950’s one by one turn into a rhinoceros until they all become a mindless and savage herd. All of them that is except for the ‘Everyman’ character of Berenger. It is Berenger with whom we identify the most as he drifts through life without purpose, comically passive, bored and self-obsessed. But by the end of the play Berenger, in his success at resisting ‘rhinoceritus’, is the character that has changed the most. He becomes a revolutionary, a tragic figure that urgently calls out to his fellow townspeople to resist the insanity. They sadly no longer have the ears to hear him.
Guest director, Martha Ross co-founder of Theatre Columbus, examined this intricate dance between comedy and tragedy, beauty and horror, with the accomplished student cast and the assistance of Paul Cegys’ exquisite dream-like set, Colin Labadie’s comically frightening soundscape, Sharon E. Secord’s colourful and splendid costumes and Arun Srinivasan’s masterful lighting.
Rhinoceros speaks to us as much now as it did 50 years ago. We’re currently witnessing around the world an alarming resurgence of neo-nazism. But the play as well speaks to our propensity for denial. Like the characters in Ionesco’s play we are blind to what is glaring right at us. We adapt to anything because it’s easier to conform than to challenge the status quo.
Check out the video made by the Alumni Office as to what the play is about and why you should come see it.
Winter 2015 Production
Trailer
Jean Berenger and the Waitress
Jean and others look out into the audience
Mrs. Boeuf, her cat, the Old Gentleman and the Logician
Botard, Dudard and Papillon
Jean and Berenger prepare to fight
Daisy and Berenger
Berenger and Jean who is turning into a rhinoceros
The carpentry crew
Written by Eugene Ionesco
Directed by: Martha Ross
Performances: March 18 - 21st, 2015
Venue: Theatre of the Arts, Modern Languages Building
Cast
Berenger - Alan Shonfield
Waitress / Mr. Papillon - Emma Mann
Dudard / Proprietor - Michael To
Daisy - Mollie Garrett
Grocer’s Wife / Old Jean’s Wife - Carly Derderian
Botard / Grocer - Eric Kim
Jean - Sam Beuerle
Housewife / Mrs. Boeuf - Rebecca Birrell
Logician / Old Jean / Fireman - Meghan Landers
Old Gentleman - Madeline Samms
Creative Team
Director – Martha Ross
Set/Props Designer & Design Dramaturg – Paul Cegys
Costume Designer - Sharon Secord
Lighting Designer – Arun Srinivasan
Sound Designer – Colin Labadie
Dramaturg – Kelly Conlan
Supervising Dramaturg – Toby Malone
Props Builder/ Fight Choreographer – Shaw Forgeron
Production Team
Production Manager – Janelle Rainville
Technical Director – Gill Lesperance
Head of Wardrobe (Dept.) – Sharon E. Secord
Assistant Production Manager – Bob Stan
Stage Manager – Carleigh MacDonald
Assistant Stage Managers – Teresa Allen, Chantaine Green-Leach, Stefan Radic
Head of Carpentry/Paint - Cameron Jolliffe
Head of Props/Masks – Alice Wang
Head of Lighting – Zac Gungl
Head of Wardrobe – Vanessa Wainwright
Head of Publicity – Adam Winchester
Carpentry / Paint Crew – Alyssa Almeida, Sidney McMahon, Chelsea Vanoverbeke
Props / Masks Crew – Jaimie Bain, Sandy Thi, Zach Haime
Lighting Crew – Kailey Dudek, Alexandra Porter, Brendan Stehouwer, Carla Rodrigo
Wardrobe Crew – Cameron Smith, Abbi Longmire, Sam Mercury, Nivan Hamed
Sound Crew – Kandi Prosser (Operator)
Special Thanks
Digital Arts Communication (DAC) & Director Glenn Stillar
Clare Cummins from Alumni Relations
Sam Stuckless, Publicity Assistant
Susan CookScheerer of Rogers DayTime Television
Coral Andrews from Coral FM Radio
Mark Haasnoot, Publicity Photographer
Vanessa Wainwright, Publicity Photographer
William Innes, poster designer & videographer
Nan Millard
Ray Millard
Lesley Millard
Tanya Apostolidis
Christina Gungl
Steve Gungl
Noor Mirza from Imprint