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DePauw Theatre Presents Bloody Poetry, April 2-4

DePauw Theatre Presents Bloody Poetry, April 2-4

March 26, 2004

March 26, 2004, Greencastle, Ind. - DePauw Theatre concludes its 2003-2004 season with Bloody Poetry, by Howard Brenton. Performances are scheduled for Friday, April 2 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 3 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 4 at 1 p.m. in Moore Theatre of the Performing Arts Center. The production is co-sponsored by the DePauw University English Department. (photo shows rehearsal for the play)

It is the summer of 1816. Meeting for the first time on a sun-lit beach in Switzerland are two architects of English Romantic poetry: Lord George Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelly. The two are introduced by Byron's mistress, Claire, step-sister to Shelly's mistress Mary (the future Mrs. Shelly). Both poets are self-exiled to escape escalating gossip related to their separate acts of personal and political radicalism: Byron's incestuous relationship with his half-sister and Shelly's very vocal atheism. The meeting kicks off a historic bond highlighted by flowing brandy, free love, and lively exchanges over poetry, philosophy, and politics.

That summer also proves to be the genesis for two other major contributions to English literature. As the ménage-a-quartre share their days and nights together, Mary is developing her story for Frankenstein, while William Palidori, Byron's inept personal physician and paparazzi-like biographer, finds fodder for his story, The Vampyre (the source for Bram Stoker's more famous Dracula). The image-laden action eventually culminates in Bysshe Shelly's tragic death in 1823.

Assistant professor of communication arts and sciences Andrew Hayes has chosen to direct this play, he says, because, "in its examination of the excesses of the romantic spirit it exposes the real price of sexual, artistic and political freedom." The characters of Bloody Poetry live thrillingly creative and passionate lives with utter abandonment, but is the cost of such "freedom" worth the ultimate consequences?

The DePauw production features Will Pfaffenberger as Lord Byron, Kanishka Bhattacharya as Percy Bysshe Shelley, Nickee Kniskern as Claire, Katy Franklin as Mary, Cody Cranch as William Palidori, and Michelle Edvenson as Harriet, Shelly's deceased wife. Costumes for the period are designed and built by guest artist and DePauw art department registrar Christie Anderson.

The play contains adult language and situations and is not appropriate for young audiences. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students and can be purchased at the DePauw University Performing Arts Center box office. Reservations can be made by phoning (765) 658-4827 or sending an e-mail here. For more information on DePauw Theatre productions, click here.

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