The Madwoman of Chaillot

 

Performances:

February 9-March 17, 2018
Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm
Industry performance Monday, February 26 at 7pm
Athenaeum Theatre Studio 1
2936 N. Southport

By Jean Giraudoux

The Madwoman of Chaillot reveals a plot by a group of corrupt business executives who are planning to dig up the streets of Paris so they can pump oil that they believe lies beneath. Their plot is challenged by the titular “Madwoman,” the eccentric Countess Aurelia, an idealist who resolves to fight back and rescue humanity from the scheming and corrupt developers with the help of her fellow outcasts and her fellow madwomen. Originally written to protest thoughtless urban renewal, The Madwoman of Chaillot has remained remarkably up-to-date. Today, the play speaks to environmental concerns, the destruction of the natural world, and the manipulation of world financial markets.

Jack_LewisHS

John Arthur Lewis

Director John Arthur Lewis, who also staged Promethean’s productions of Anouilh’s The Lark and Giraudoux’s Tiger at the Gates, says “The play is surprisingly modern and accessible. In my head, it sounds like Aaron Sorkin at his funniest, Monty Python, or the craziest episodes of M*A*S*H. But there’s a lot of value in this play beyond the comedy.I think it can be something unique, powerful, and profound.”

This Madwoman of Chaillot is marvelous, funny, and timely.

Karen Topham

Chicago on Stage

Promethean Theatre Ensemble’s workmanlike production of this urban fairy tale features Elaine Carlson as an Aurelia whose daft, dithery whimsicality belies a steely ruthlessness.

Reader Recommended

Albert Williams

Chicago Reader

A one-woman Bastille Day, Aurelia’s resilient confidence finds the perfect outlet in Carlson’s inexhaustible ebullience.

Lawrence Bommer

Stage and Cinema

Production Staff

Director: John Arthur Lewis**
Assistant Director: Jessica Haworth
Stage Manager: Alexa Berkowitz*
Set Designer/Technical Director: Jeremiah Barr*
Lighting Designer: Leigh Barrett
Costume Designer: Rachel Sypniewski
Sound Designer: Sam Allyn
Photography: Tom McGrath**

*Indicates PTE Ensemble Member

**Indicates PTE Artistic Associate

Cast

Elaine Carlson*

Elaine Carlson*

Countess Aurelia

 

Jennifer Vance

Jennifer Vance

Gabrielle/The Singer

Brendan Hutt*

Brendan Hutt*

The Baron/The Sergeant

 

Brendan Connelly

Brendan Connelly

The Messenger

 

Laura Sturm

Laura Sturm

Constance

 

Jerry Bloom

Jerry Bloom

The Ragpicker/The President

 

Brian Hurst*

Brian Hurst*

The Prospector/The Sewerman

 

Brenda Wlazlo

Brenda Wlazlo

Irma

 

Betsy Pennington Taylor

Betsy Pennington Taylor

Understudy - Countess Aurelia

*Indicates PTE Ensemble Member

**Indicates PTE Artistic Associate

Jamie Bragg

Jamie Bragg

Josephine/The Broker

Meghann Tabor*

Meghann Tabor*

The Peddler/The Doctor

 

Tom Murphy*

Tom Murphy*

The Policeman/The Little Man

 

Xavier Lagunas

Xavier Lagunas

Pierre