FRIDAY, NOV. 6 at 7:30 P.M.

Rhinoceros by Eugene Ionesco

Van Duzer Theater

Oh, a rhinoceros! The Cal Poly Humboldt Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre presents “Rhinoceros” by Eugene Ionesco. Written in the aftermath of WWII, Rhinoceros tumbles the viewer into a dream-like world where humans transform into beasts at the drop of a hat. Characters end up justifying actions that they take even if those actions are at odds with social norms. Join us November 6, 7, 13 and 14th at 7:30pm and November 8 and 15th at 2:00pm at the John Van Duzer Theatre. Tickets are $13 General, $11 for children and seniors and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt Students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at https://tickets.humboldt.edu/section/dance-music-theatre-kldu

Directed by James Peck, Rhinoceros “is a genius piece of work that I 've wanted to do for such a long time. I've wanted to be in for such a long time. It's an absurdist play that mixes farce and melodrama, farce and tragedy even.” Says Peck. “Eugène Ionesco [the Author] was a survivor, emerging out of the Second World War and was the child of Romanian and French parents, and he was never quite settled as he bounced between Romania and France. One of the outcomes of this was the revelation that when an idea takes hold, as it did in Nazi Germany, then all truths get bent towards that idea. He would warn against any idea taking such control, and in this play, we see that. There are all kinds of arguments and justifications for many opinions, but none of them really matter, as the weight of the rhino cult one by one takes over all opinions.”

The play follows its anti-social bum protagonist, Berenger, as he navigates the strange events occurring as the citizens of his town succumb to the will of the Rhino cult. How do the townspeople, and Berenger, explain what is happening? How do they begin to deal with this wild phenomenon?

The audience will be at the edge of their seats for this over-the-top production of Rhinoceros. To bring to life this absurd world, the production is utilizing sound effects, lighting tricks, fantastic costumes, absurdist scenic designs that evoke the strange perspectives of M.C Escher, and above all, a truly physical performance from all of the actors. James Peck spoke on this, "You're performing in a farce, things have to be quick. Things have to be articulate. But the actors also have to have a knowledge of how the body expresses itself in order to create a picture the audience understands. The physicality, just having people off balance or off weight or having people be asked to extend exaggerations, particularly in an absurdist world, allows the audience to be woken up if they are in a soporific state.”

This production is a celebration of the enormous effort students have taken to bring this world to life. From actors to stage managers to production crew, the students at Cal Poly Humboldt are offering to the community a wonderful piece of theatre.

Says Peck, “This has been an ensemble creation, and I am happy to say that everyone, from my assistant director Centauri, to my stage management team, to the actors and the rest of the creative team have contributed to the outcome in no small way. The way that the play has evolved creatively has beautifully reflected Ionesco’s commentary that the nature of humans is to want simple straight direct answers in a world that isn’t made like that. I have loved the questions that this play asks of us: Where do I get my information? How do I respond? Is it me that is responding? Or some outside influence that I cannot even see? Am I a rhinoceros?”

Are you a Rhinoceros? Join us starting November 6th and find out.

DATES/TIMES
WHERE
PRICE
  • $13
  • $11 Children/Seniors
  • Free Cal Poly Students with ID
CONTACT INFO
  • Phone: 707-826-3928
  • Email: theatre@humboldt.edu
  • Web site

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