Harford Friends School

Saturday, September 15 at 7:30 p.m. Evening of Theater to Support the Highland Community Association and Harford Friends School
An Evening of Theater
New Old Theater presents THE STAGE STRUCK YANKEE AND THE NEW KING LEAR Directed by Steven Lampredi Program: This evening NEW OLD THEATER introduces you to Jonathan, the ORIGINAL YANKEE in a scene from THE CONTRAST (1787) Jonathan played by Mr. Lampredi Jenny played by Mrs. Plourde Next, thrill to CONQUEST, REVERSAL and REDEMPTION in THE HISTORY OF KING LEAR act V (1681) Lear played by Mr Curtis Duke of Albany played by Mr Rehr Edmond, bastard son of Glouchester played by Mr Blackwell Rogers Edgar, rightful heir of Glouchester TBA Goneril played by Mrs Plourde Regan played by Mrs McCaffrey Cordelia played by Mrs Gabriel Deutsch Officers, attendants,etc played by the company .. Intermission In its entirety, THE STAGE STRUCK YANKEE (1849) brings you the Yankee boy all caught up by the lure of the stage. Curtis Chunk played by Mr Blackwell Rogers Capt. Chunk played by Mr Rehr Douglas Double- a manager played by Mr Curtis Fanny Magnet played by Mrs McCaffrey Jedidah- a Yankee girl played by Mrs Gabriel Deutsch All this! Plus varieties, song and dance to be announced at show time! A SPLENDID TIME IS GUARANTEED FOR ALL! The Yankee: Most people think of "Yankee" as an epithet directed at the Union soldiers during the American Civil War, or the name of a baseball team. However, New Old Theater is going to take you much further back and introduce you to the original "Yankee", a popular stage convention from early in the 1800's that is part of our forgotten American folk drama. The Contrast was an attempt to present a play with American values. It introduced the character of Jonathan the beginning of a National "type". For over fifty years, this "stage Yankee" held the attention of the American public and theatergoers throughout the English-speaking world. Many actors portrayed the stock character of a humorously rustic and individualistic fellow, usually from western New England. The childlike but shrewd comic character became closely associated with the American character. When our country was still young; plays, stories, artwork, and cartoons of "Brother Jonathan" influenced the world's view of Americans, and the stage costume of the Yankee eventually evolved into the image of Uncle Sam! The History of King Lear by Nahum Tate: Presented tonight is the ending of Nahum Tate's 1681 improvement of Shakespeare's Tragedy. Some scholars and critics consider Lear and Cordelia's deaths overly dismal. Tate's version allows virtue to be rewarded, a very popular concept in Victorian times, so we feel it is most appropriate for New Old Theater. This adaptation of Shakespeare's play was the one MOST produced in theaters across America until Edwin Booth revived the original text here in 1875. Background: So old it's new! New Old Theater is a company devoted to the popular theater of early America in the original performance style.
Past productions:
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN (1858) Baltimore and Takoma Park, MD- Summer, 2007
CAESAR, or; THE WATCHDOG OF THE CASTLE (a canine Melodrama from 1844) presented in Baltimore, MD and Alexandria, VA April, May 2006
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN (1858) Performed at Indian Head, Maryland; Laurel, Maryland; and Boonesboro, MD summer 2005 BLACK-EYED SUSAN, or; ALL IN THE DOWNS a Maritime Melodrama (1839) by Douglas Jerrold, English playwright, humourist (1803-1837). Presented at Riversdale Mansion in Riverdale, Maryland, May 2004 Artistic Director: Steven Lampredi Dramaturge: Buff Huntley Associate Producer: Katherine Mack The Players: Ian Blackwell Rogers, Kim Curtis, Linda Gabriel Deutch, Steven Lampredi, Carol McCaffrey, Jean Miller, Jean M. Peterson, Allison Plourde, Marc Rehr Musicians: Jean M. Peterson, Ider P.Malnevets Where & When 708 HIghland Road Street, Maryland 21154 Saturday, September 15 at 7:30 p.m. Advertise in the Program Ad space is available in the printed program. Copy deadline is August 30. Contact Jeffrey Wilson at 410-452-8465 for rates.