Author: Ruben Kenig

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Productions

Juno and the Paycock First Production Staged at UTRGV

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is to open its first theatre season with a production of Juno and the Paycock. The Albert L Jeffers Theatre was built in 1931 but this is the first production of the newly instituted UTRGV.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Official Logo

Assistant Professor and designer Jennifer Saxton said of the choice of production,

“I think one reason we picked the play was that there were so many universal themes in it that struck us as relevant. It’s about family, and loyalty, the civil war turning neighbor against neighbor rather than uniting against an outside force now that they have left, what it means to be a mother, and the effects of poverty.”

The play will run from 7th October to11th October to If you want more information or to book tickets contact Elva Galvan at the University Theatre box office, (956) 665-3581.

Categories
Productions

The Plough and the Stars at the National Theatre

National Theatre, London
By MaryG90 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

The National Theatre has announced a new production of The Plough and the Stars to open in July. The production will be directed by Howard Davies, following on from his critically acclaimed production of The Silver Tassie last year.

This production of The Plough and the Stars will mark the centenary of the Easter Rising and ninety years since the premier of the play.

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News

Somerset Maugham’s For Services Rendered Parallels With The Silver Tassie

Maugham retouched
Howard Davies production of Somerset Maugham’s For Services Rendered at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester is receiving very positive reviews, building on the success of his production of The Silver Tassie at the National Theatre last year.

Michael Billington in his Guardian review points out the parallels between the two works. Both plays use an examination of family to make, “attack[s] on the destructive consequences of war”. While The Silver Tassie takes you to the battlefield For Services Rendered remains inside the family dynamic.

First performed in 1932 in the West End the play was not well received as its anti-war message was not popular at the time. The work received a handful of revivals, including a TV version by Granada in 1959. Howard Davies production is now bringing this play and its message back to the British stage.