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Peer Reviews The
Likable "Bad Guy" Reviewed b y Julia Leist Entire contents are copyright © 2007 Julia Leist. All rights reserved.
Seven parts French dramatist, one part commedia,
and a whole lot of comic genius; stir briskly,
add a dash of charisma and you've got yourself
a recipe for a totally rockin' adaptation of Moliere's
Don Juan. Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble
revisits this bizarre tale of a lustful, sinful,
seducing Romeo and kicks it smack-dab into the
twenty-first century. Even the Sicilian playboy
would be wooed over by this ensemble's bodacious
charm. Combining various translations of the classical
text and Mozart's Don Giovanni, Gregory
Maupin (a native Louisvillian and co-founder of
Le Petomane) has created a smart adaptation of
Moliere's strangest play. This is, in fact, what makes the whole production so successful. As it is eloquently stated in the play program, "The great paradox of The Mask is that it actually exposes more than it truly conceals." Each time a performer dawns a new mask, the audience witnesses the birth of a totally new and believable character -- using the mask as a tool to reach a realm beyond the limited reality of the Rudyard Kipling. The dining hall of the "Rud" transforms into the coast, the country, and a palace seamlessly. Most impressive is the way in which Le Petomane manages to use the rustic charm and awkward layout of the "Rud" to enhance the actor/audience relationship and benefit the text. Don Juan strolls through life pitching woe, acquiring debt, and mocking his elders without a morsel of regret; what's wrong with hedonism when there are no consequences (earthly or otherwise)? For Don Juan, the only God he answers to is himself. Though his right-hand man, Sganarelle (Gregory Maupin), half-heartedly warns him that he is spitting into the wind, Don Juan continues with his miscreant behavior. Where Don Juan goes, Sganarelle, carrying a golf bag stocked with shiny plastic lances, reluctantly follows -- be it out of blind devotion or love of his paycheck. When they set out to conquer a far-off lassie, Don Juan finds himself face to face with an unusual villain. Of course, the play tackles the usual Molierian morality issues, and the sinner finds himself in some sort of proverbial hell. In Don Juan, Moliere presents a very likable "bad guy." Don Juan lives the life of vice we all desire to live but have the conscience to avoid.
Le Petomane Theatre Ensemble is doing good work
in a necessary way, giving the Louisville theatre
scene something it has been missing. Their work
is ego-less and solidly executed. They are devoted
to the play and to their audience, making their
work affordable using a sliding scale for admission
costs ($8-$20), a pay-what-you-can kind of thing.
These actors know comedy and want to share it
with you. So, take my advice, and no matter what
your theatrical background may be, you will find
yourself laughing and enlightened by Don
Juan.
Go, make your reservation. What are your waiting
for, a marble bust of Zeus to tell you? Don Juan Mar. 15-17, 23-24, 30-31 @ 7:30 www.lepetomane.org (I
recommend checking out their web site for valuable Posted Mar. 19, 2007
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