Performance of 'The Madwoman of Chaillot' juggles current economic and ecological

                Due to the financial crisis in America these days, no one seems to have much to smile about. Lately, it seems like the country has engaged in a tug-of-war about who is to blame and what went wrong. Jean Giraudoux's "The Madwoman of Chaillot," though written in France in 1945, is a surprisingly keen commentary on modern economic and ecological concerns here in America. It is a call to action about solving environmental and financial issues, but at the same time an entertaining comedy.
    Director Downing Cless, an associate professor in the drama department, decided to emphasize the circus-like aspect of the play when he chose it and was surprised to find his vision corroborated by the entire design staff at their first meeting. "I have never seen such unanimity during the first production meeting," he said.
    The play centers on a scheme to drill for oil under the city of Paris, which a band of madwomen and vagabonds plan to thwart. With modern chants of "drill, baby, drill!" it's easy to forget that this play was written over 60 years ago. "Madwoman" has been performed stateside on Broadway before, but as an adaptation. Tufts' production is a direct translation by Professor of Drama Laurence Senelick of the original French version.
    Working with an original translation offers many unique opportunities for this production. The material is already closely relevant to modern issues, but some references have been added to speak to modern audiences; Southern flood victims and hedge funds are mentioned, for example.
    Though the play is set in Paris, the time period is deliberately unspecified in this production. "It could take place anywhere from the 19th century to the present," Cless said. The hazy time period adds to the whimsical, circus-like feel of the show. The arena space also suggests the appearance of a one-ring circus — characters are constantly entering and exiting the "ring," juggling or dancing over the dialogue.
    "The play is a fantasy; it deals with the Madwoman eliminating [the corporate oil prospectors]. It is something for the audience to enjoy vicariously," Cless said.
    Another prominent feature of the show is the relationship of humans to nature, and the way that relationship comes into conflict with corporate excess and economic expansion. "[The Madwoman] definitely has eco-feminist undertones," said junior Emily Code, who plays the title character. "The play centers on very relevant issues in our current economy and environmental conditions."
    The Madwoman is not so much mad as she is an eccentric character who is called to action by one of the vagabonds of Chaillot, the Ragpicker (played by senior Ben Samuels). "The show is a circus, and the Ragpicker is the painted clown," Samuels said. "He is the nostalgic who was alive when we were treating the earth well. Though he is a coward on many levels because he can't elicit change on his own, he later proves to be the catalyst for the Madwoman's change."
    Code agreed. "He has the drive, she has the ability," she said.
    This politically charged play has proven a challenge for the small cast in many ways, one of which being the direct emphasis on language and plot. "The play is very French," Code said. "Plot progression, not character progression, is the main focus. It's all about the words."
    Working with an original translation has also been a challenge, though a pleasant one. "It's exciting to be the character the first time it's seen by the public. Of course, it's also kind of scary!" Samuels said.
    "The Madwoman of Chaillot" opens tonight at the Balch Arena Theater and has additional performances this Friday and Saturday as well as next Thursday through Saturday. Tickets are $12 or $7 with a Tufts ID on all nights, with the exception of a $1-ticket performance on Nov. 6.