{"id":596,"date":"2019-07-17T18:18:32","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wcsu.wpengine.com\/news-archives\/lysistratainedinburghreviews\/"},"modified":"2019-07-17T18:18:32","modified_gmt":"2019-07-17T18:18:32","slug":"lysistratainedinburghreviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/news-archives\/lysistratainedinburghreviews\/","title":{"rendered":"2013 Lysistrata in Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DANBURY, CONN. <\/strong>\u2014 This summer marks a milestone for the Western Connecticut State University<\/a> Department of Theatre Arts<\/a>. It\u2019s the 10th time faculty and students have traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, to participate in the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe<\/a>, the largest arts festival in the world. <\/p>\n

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From July 31, through August 11, more than two dozen WCSU students and recent graduates are staging \u201cLysistrata: The Disco Vaudeville Rock \u2019N \u2019Roll Musical\u201d at the Gilded Balloon Teviot Debating Hall at Bistro Square in Edinburgh. <\/p>\n

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WCSU Professor of Theatre Arts and the show\u2019s director Sal Trapani said, \u201cFor our students, performing in Edinburgh is a life-changing experience in many ways. The shows are a chance for students to perform before a live audience and an opportunity for the public to see how talented our students are.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Not just the public sees our students perform, but international theatre reviewers do, too. And the feedback has been fantastic.<\/p>\n

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A FringeReview<\/a> post listed Western\u2019s production as one of the \u201cTop ten overall recommended musicals.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Veronika Kallus\u2019 review posted in Edinburgh Spotlight<\/a> stated, \u201cAncient Greece meets the modern world in this classical tale of men and women, of war and peace. Men go to war, and will keep going, women stay at home, longing for their husbands and fearing for their sons. Will they keep putting up with it? Not if Lysistrata gets her way. She comes up with a radical solution: the old women will seize the city\u2019s citadel and guard the treasury: no money, no war. And the young women will deny their men what they most want when they return home from war \u2013 their gentleness and, ultimately, sex. It takes some convincing, and a lot of stamina to keep up. The question remains \u2013 will it be worth it in the end?<\/p>\n

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\u201c\u2018War \u2013 what is it good for? Absolutely nothing\u2019 is the shout-it-out line with which this kaleidoscopic musical begins. Cleverly choreographed, rhythmical, colourful and constantly varied, it does its title \u2013 The Disco Vaudeville Rock\u2019n\u2019Roll Musical \u2013 justice. Cabaret-like style singing, dancing, puppetry, slow motion battle scenes, slapstick, tap-dance, it\u2019s all there. The voices are impressively casted, strong and clear, sound in general is very good. Even if all actors are singing, most of the lyrics are still graspable and the message clear. Costume designer Lisa Jordan has done an outstanding job in combining modern dress with a classical appearance. Colourful, floating robes for the young ladies and kilts replacing loincloths on the warriors \u2013 the kilts also work their part for illustrating certain hard conditions as the strike goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Geoff of One4Review<\/a> posted, \u201cOver the years the Fringe has been graced by this company crossing the pond from America to stage their adaptation of historical pieces and given the twist of making [it] into a musical extravaganza. The classical story of Lysistrata is the chosen storyline this time, the tale of how she persuaded the women of Greece to withhold themselves from husbands and lovers in order to force peace negotiations, a ploy that obviously worked. The cast of 20-plus were excellent without exception and as usual there were some amazing singing voices, the set was simple but excellently dressed, and the original music by Sal Trapani enjoyable and fitting to the styles in this title. Trapani is also the writer, director and producer of the piece and his creativity is certainly done justice by this extremely talented young cast. They can sing and dance, tap, and the routines are well drilled. You can also expect some stage fighting and puppets to add to the productions value. And there are plenty of comedy moments as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A review posted by The New Current<\/a> proclaimed, \u201cI will admit I wasn\u2019t sure what a disco vaudeville Rock \u2019n Roll musical would be like and whether or not it would work, but after the opening number, \u2018War\u2019 by Edwin Starr, I became intrigued. As the singer launches into \u2018War,\u2019 the rest of the cast, a mixture of Greek women dressed in a series of revealing satin dresses and Soldiers, march through the central isle of the Debating Hall. \u2026 The performers are a credit to the production and one couldn\u2019t fault them. Each of them sang with great control and range that lifted the production. The story itself is strong and interesting but also funny \u2013 the scenes with the three pig magistrates are done well. A special note should be given to Lisa Renne Jordan\u2019s costumes, which are both delicately sexual and wonderfully detailed, adding greatly to the production.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The WCSU Department of Theatre Arts will stage the original play, \u201cTwo Nights Near Doolin,\u201d in October and the musical \u201cChicago\u201d in October and November on campus. For more information about upcoming performances, visit www.wcsu.edu\/svpa\/events.asp<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.<\/p>\n

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Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England\u2019s best small private universities.<\/em><\/p>\n

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