Moliere

"I live on good soup, not on fine words". In this quote playwright Moliere shows his practical side. But the "fine words" in his plays also demonstrate subtlety and insight to the human character. The Valley Players are taking up the challenge of demonstrating Moliere's skills, and their own, next January when they present two one-act plays by this often overlooked playwright.

Casting for the plays is now complete, with the large audition turnout proving to be entertaining for the casting committee of Marianne Mullan, Barb Dickson and Tony Scott. With such talented actors wanting a piece of the action, how could the auditions not be fun?

But, in bringing a play to the stage, there are many ways to enjoy oneself. Even though January 2009 seems a long way away, the production committee is already working to achieve a fine presentation, dreaming up all sorts of imaginative ideas (some of them practical!). Producers Tracy Julian and Kim Curran are pulling together all the many facets of this venture, including such mundane but essential details as finding and booking rehearsal space. Sara Cochran and her costuming team are already cutting cloth, Christy Bindhart is preparing set drawings. Director Tony Scott is planning the rehearsals that begin in September.

As the plays are period pieces, it is important to convey the right atmosphere to the audience. Apart from set and costumes, there is the music and dance of the period. Kerry and Graham Ingram are already doing a fine job of discovering suitable dances that can be readily taught to the company, as well as finding great musical accompaniment.

Moliere's quote which heads this article, shows his fine sense of the practical and his self deprecation. Applied to his plays, the "good soup" can be taken as the production elements, but I have to assure you his words too are just fine - especially within the context of the humourous situations his characters find themselves battling.

Just for fun, and to lift the veil a little on what the audience will have to feast their eyes, here is a basic design for one of the dresses to be worn by Celie (one half of the young love interest) in "Sganarelle" and "The Flying Doctor" by Moliere make up the Valley Players Fall/Winter production opening on January 16th, 2009.