The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents Eugene Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano as the final production of its 2014-2015 Late Night Theatre series. The play will be directed by UH Mānoa MFA candidate Soonsup Hong. Performances will take place at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre on April 17, 18, 24, and 25 at 11 p.m., following the Mainstage concert Dancing Off the Page and explores the futility and the absurdity of life as well as the tragedy of miscommunication.
The play takes place in the suburbs of London, as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, played by Erik Wagenman and Margot Fitzsimmons, are paid a social call by Mr. and Mrs. Martin, played by Michael “Donut” Donato and Sharon Garcia Doyle.
Although the play’s premise is simple, as it evolves, language is bent and stretched; characters say nonsensical things and behave in nonsensical ways. The process, in repetition, is “life,” according to Ionesco. This feeling that life is absurd and that communication is impossible arose from the destruction and chaos Ionesco witnessed during and after World War II.
Hong was inspired to direct this absurdist play by his status as a South Korean international student at UH Mānoa and by his experiences as a non-native English speaker. “Every day of my life is absurd,” laughs Hong. “I often feel like I am speaking and hearing nonsense!” He hopes that his unique experiences will allow him to capture both the underlying loneliness of the play, but also allow people to chuckle at life’s ridiculousness.
Ticket info
Tickets for The Bald Soprano will go on sale at the box office one hour before show time each performance night.
Ticket prices
- $10 general admission
- $8 seniors/military/UH faculty and staff/non-UH Mānoa students
- $5 UH Mānoa students with a valid spring 2015 UH Mānoa photo ID
All service fees are included in ticket prices. For more information, please visit the Kennedy theatre website or call the theatre at (808) 956-7655. For disability access, please call the theatre.
