The University of Alabama Department of Theatre and Dance is presenting George Bernard Shaw’s play, “Misalliance,” this week in Marian Gallaway Theatre in Rowand-Johnson Hall.
According to the UA Department of Theatre and Dance website, “Misalliance” is “a comic examination of the mating instincts of a varied group of people gathered at a wealthy man’s country home one summer weekend afternoon” and the “unsuitable alliances” formed there.
The comedy includes colorful characters such as “a successful merchant … and his dotty wife, daughter and son … the daughter’s fiancé and his aristocrat father, a gun-wielding youth trying to kill the merchant” and others.
Edmond “Ed” Williams, founding chairman of the UA Department of Theatre and Dance and professor of stage managing and directing, will direct “Misalliance.” He said he believes this play is “great fun.”
“It’s a romance. It’s sexy. It’s fun. It’s silly, too,” Williams said. “I’ve got a great cast. They’ve all been very willing to do what I ask them: to be on time, to work hard, and to learn their lines and to do this in an English accent. They’ve worked very long.”
Williams said the audience will enjoy the play because they will be able to relate to the characters and the situations presented.
“I think [the audience] will see themselves in some ways because we all have to deal with parents; all of our student body does,” he said. “And all the parents have to deal with children, so they’ll see that, as well.”
John Paul Snead, a senior majoring in theatre on a musical theatre track, is in his ninth production at the University and enjoys playing the role of Bentley Summerhays.
“Bentley, because he is so high class, all his life, he has always received everything he ever wanted. He is absolutely spoiled,” Snead said. “During the show, I get to throw a couple of tantrums, and I get to basically have my way and whine a good bit. I love it.”
Samuel Hardy, a sophomore majoring in theatre, said he also enjoys playing his character, Julius Baker, the “gun-wielding youth.”
“He’s a real down-to-earth kind of guy … he really comes in representing the real world,” Hardy said. “He’s a smart guy, but he’s got his feet on the ground.”
Both actors agree they are most looking forward to finally performing in front of an audience and seeing how that audience will respond.
“We live in this world on our own for so long, and we finally get an audience, and it really changes how the atmosphere in the room is,” Snead said. “I’m excited to let people see a glimpse into our lives for a couple of hours.”
Hardy said he is looking forward to discussing with audience members what they felt about the show.
“Really, folks should come out of this show thinking about all the different points of views that get presented,” Hardy said. “It’s going to be neat to start those conversations.”
“Misalliance” will be performed Nov. 12-16 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. Each performance costs $12 for students, $15 for faculty and senior citizens and $18 for all other adults. Tickets may be purchased at the box office in Rowand-Johnson Hall or at theatre.ua.edu. For more information, call 205-348-3400 or visit theatre.ua.edu.
