Rumors and scandals are at the heart of our society. Every day, we turn on our televisions, computers and radios to tune into the latest news of celebrities (Katie Holmes is pregnant?). Apparently, this need for gossip is fairly universal across history: When the Department of Drama and Dance's new play, Richard Brinsley Sheridan's "The School for Scandal," first premiered in 1777, it was highly praised for its realistic portrayal of the human weakness for hearsay.
The Department's first production of the season, "The School for Scandal," has been carefully crafted by director Sheriden Thomas and script adaptor Susanne Corso. Together they have enhanced its original 18th century Restoration comedy with a modern-day flair.
The play relates the story of three pairs of star-crossed lovers and their miscommunications and gullibility for gossip and scandal. Because the show is an ensemble piece, each element plays off the others to create gossip, scandal, and quite a bit of trouble.
There are the gentry, who are attempting to live their lives, the gossips, who are attempting to pull apart these lives, and the mechanicals, who help to move the play along by setting the scenes and carrying out other essential tasks to pull the entire production together. This concept of having no true leads makes "The School for Scandal" unique, in that the entire cast works as a unit, each member performing his or her duty to move the show along.
According to sophomore Madeline Schussel, who plays Mrs. Candour, the crux of the show lies in "how gossip interferes with our lives. It's a battle between characters trying to live their lives and those trying to tear it apart," she said.
The concept for this production - to join contemporary scandal with 18th century fanfare - is successful in a large part due to the efforts of director Thomas, who received two Leon Rabin Awards and three Theater Critics Forum Awards and who directed last year's "Hay Fever," and text coach Susanne Corso, who aided in much of the script adaptation.
"It is important to realize that although this is a period piece, what was true then is true now. Gossip and scandal then is simply escalated to the media level in modern day society," said Thomas.
The play was drastically shortened to achieve a more contemporary length. In this way, the piece is more action-packed, another modern convention of entertainment. Another important adaptation of the piece was gender-bending, by altering the number of female cast members from only four to 12. This gives the production a more contemporary feel as well.
The overall style of "The School for Scandal" is intended to be one of enormous luxury, like a fashion show or media event. By creating a complicated set and luxurious costumes, the audience is reminded of the present day quality in the 18th century work. "It's a media event, with everything big and flashy," said junior Will Shaw, who plays Master Rowley.
This idea of an elaborate media event causes "The School for Scandal" to be a large scale production for the Balch Arena Theater, with highly technical elements and lavish costume designs. The cast is sizeable, with 21 members, and there are several technical crews working to pull off the detailed show.
The immense complexity of the piece requires precise collaboration of all elements: lights, sound, acting. Director Sheriden Thomas mentioned that this production is the biggest one she has done yet at Tufts.
This is one 'spectacle' that promises two hours of solid entertainment, scandal aside.
