A new production of two plays by Eugène Ionesco, “The Bald Soprano” and “The Lesson,” will be performed by Department of Performing Arts students on April 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 8 p.m. in the Bilkent Theater Hall. The two-act production will be directed by Işıl Kasapoğlu.
Often called the father of the theater of the absurd, Ionesco was a native of Romania who became a leading figure in the French avant-garde movement. He wrote groundbreaking plays that are simultaneously hilarious, tragic and profound.
In “The Bald Soprano,” Ionesco throws together a cast of characters including a quintessential British middle-class family, the Smiths, their guests, the Martins, their maid Mary and a fire chief determined to extinguish all fires. This archetypical absurdist tale gives Ionesco the opportunity to display his profound take on the problems inherent in modern communication.
“The Lesson” illustrates the playwright’s comic genius, with insanity and farce colliding as a professor becomes increasingly frustrated with his hapless student, and the student with his mad teacher.
Transportation to the city center will be available following the performances, with a bus to Tunus Street departing from the FMPA building at 10 p.m. Students taking GE250/251 will receive points for attending a performance.
Tickets are available for general sale at MyBilet. For more information, please call the department at ext. 1775.
Playwright: Eugène Ionesco
Translation: Hasan Anamur
Director: Işıl Kasapoğlu
Cast: Baran Can Eraslan, Beste Güven, Melisa Su Taşkıran, Barbaros Efe Türkay, Gülçin Kültür, Berkay Şekerci
Set Design: Hakan Dündar
Costume Design: İnci Kangal
Lighting Design: Yılmaz Ertekin
Stage Manager: Pırıl Ertem
Sound: Ahmet Kılıç
Light Control: Melisa Berberoğlu
Technical Crew: Turgay Korkmaz, Naz Göktan, Berk Göksel
Offstage: Adnan Atalan