Comments:

Ypsidixit - 2007-10-02 13:57:14
That photo is a bit spooky, is it not? Here's the play description:

�The Summoning of Everyman�: Michigan Classical Repertory Theatre. October 11-14 & 18-21. Isaac Ellis directs local actors in this medieval morality play. When a complacent Everyman is informed by Death of his coming end, he seeks friends to accompany him on his final journey. After Fellowship, Kindred, Goods, and even the Five Wits and Knowledge leave him, he finds that Good Deeds remain. 8 p.m., Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron, Ypsilanti. Tickets $18 (students & seniors, $15; groups of 6 or more, $12 each; Thurs., pay what you can) in advance and at the door. 214-6600.

I love what sounds to me like a Gregorian chant-like austerity of plot, with allegorical figures acting out the morality play. How often do you get to see the type of play popular in the Middle Ages? Very interesting, I think.

And there must be an appropriate place to eat, somewhere nearby, to make it an all-round Medieval Evening.

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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-02 14:06:29
Now, this is really interesting: theater as we know it developed out of early religious skits performed in churches. Later these moved from inside the church to outdoor performances, and performance language also changed from Latin to English. These stories in English were called "mystery plays." Following mystery plays, the "Everyman" genre emerged--so the Everyman genre is one of the oldest theatrical genres of plays extant.

Wikipedia: "By the late medieval period several genres had developed in theatre. Morality plays, such as Everyman, personified Christian virtues and vices as they battled with one another for control of a mortal's soul. These plays were explicitly designed to teach a moral and improve the behavior of their audience."
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Dutch-American Ypsidixit - 2007-10-02 14:19:16
My, (nonchalantly) isn't this interesting. It turns out the venerable, centuries-old Everyman genre of play is (cough) Dutch in origin.

"Everyman is generally agreed to be a translation of a 921 line long Dutch morality play called Elckerlijc written by Peter van Diest, first printed in 1495, and a later version in 1518."

Ah, yes. (Knowledgeably): Van Diest, yes, yes, of course. (Modestly) my, quite the fundamental contribution to global theater, there. Silly that some folks try to argue Everyman is English in origin (chuckles).

"A pro-Dutch argument is that the near-total absence of humor in the play is atypical of an English morality drama."

Hmph. Well, let's ignore that part...someone at WIkipedia is a few tulip bulbs shy of a field if you ask me. Anyways, next Thurs. is opening night! Yay!
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Lisele - 2007-10-03 14:06:48
And you get to see my future son-in-law act in the play!!! Watch for Mr. Jesse Miller, lately of "Flap" at the Williamston Theatre.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-03 14:18:26
Wow! Many congratulations on the upcoming marriage!

My goodness, I swear Ypsi is by far the smallest town I've ever lived in. Ony a couple of degrees of separation between almost any 2 people. It will be fun to see him.
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Lisele - 2007-10-23 10:18:00
Hope some of you got to see the play. It really was tremendous, especially the interesting changes in the language. I wean, an you saw it not, you missed a grand affair!
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Lisele - 2007-10-23 10:23:36
Ack! Did not mean to press DONE yet -- wanted to say that Jesse played "Good Deeds," one of the allegorical characters. He is the only one of Everyman's friends to accompany him to the grave, with Fellowship, Kindred, and many personal attributes deserting him, including Beauty, Strength, Discretion... It was interesting that they did it as kind of a "play within a play," focusing on the actors AS actors. Beauty was a lush who spent the play tottering and weaving.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-24 08:38:56
Ha! I love your description of Beauty!

(Sigh) How does it happen? I get totally geeked to see something and then somehow never do. I don't get it. But I am glad you had a lovely time!
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