Theatre--Performance

In 1635, Pedro Calderon De La Barca rewrote an earlier script for La Vida Es Sueno (Life Is A Dream) to strengthen the themes and plot lines. The result is one of the gems of Spanish literature. Calderon's play tackles themes of free will, corruption, spirituality, existentialism and... the difficulty of knowing what is real and what is illusion.


Acting Unlimited, Inc. is presenting Life Is A Dream in a modern English translation by playwright John Clifford. The production has been conceived and designed by Artistic Director Danny Povinelli and is co-directed by Walter Brown. It stars Kayla Smith as Rosaura, Martha Diaz as Clarin, Danny Povinelli as Segismundo, Milton Resweber as Clotaldo, Jenny Felder as Estrella, Steven Cooper as Astolfo and Walter Brown as Basilio with Scott Bailey as the King's attendant and Nick Dooley and Aaron Dufrene in multiple roles. The music is arranged by Apiyo Obala.

In an imaginary Poland, the king, Basilio, is dying. He wants to right a terrible wrong. When his son, Segismundo was born his horoscope predicted that he would bring violence and revolution to the Kingdom. To prevent this, Basilio had Segismundo secretly locked into a tower where he has only one visitor--Clotaldo who is both jailor and tutor to the Prince. Now, Basilio wants to bring Segismundo to court to test him as a Prince and discover if the horoscope's warnings can be circumvented.

The play resonates with the problems people in general but young people in particular have in defining themselves and their place in the world. It's a struggle to create an identity and a code of ethics or morals. How can anyone be sure of the choices they have made? Are we tools of our genes and culture or can we step away from those constraints to make ourselves as we wish to be?

The whole theme of Life Is A Dream revolves around the idea of accepting what you are given and then transcending it--taking the cards life gives you and bidding a winning hand. Segismundo symbolizes this awakening to one's own possibilities through his imprisonment, his false start as a prince and then his successful revolution against the past. The revolution itself is a symbol of the struggle of the psyche to be its own master.

WHEN:
     Fridays and Saturdays (January 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd) at 7:30pm
     Sundays (January 10th, 17th, 24th) at 2:00pm

WHERE: 
     Cite des Arts, 109 Vine St., downtown Lafayette between Jefferson St. & Third St.

COST:
     $15 for Adults, $12 for Senior Citizens (65 and older) and students. Student and Senior prices for the Sunday matinees will be $10.

For reservations please contact Cite at 337-291-1122.