News

October 3, 2018

“The Madwoman of Chaillot” to Open October 12 at Schenectady Civic Players

The first play of Schenectady Civic Players’ 91st Season, The Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux, translated by Maurice Valency and directed by Chris Howard, opens Friday, October 12, and plays through Sunday, October 21, at its 12 South Church Street Playhouse in Schenectady’s historic Stockade district.

A beautifully comedic play of stark contrasts in human character, Giraudoux’s The Madwoman of Chaillot divides the world sharply between artists and men of business — a dark statement about the world to come that has a clearly loving touch and is funny at the same time.

At the Café Chez Francis, a syndicate of unscrupulous entrepreneurs plans to exploit a hitherto unsuspected resource of oil beneath the streets of Paris. Their only obstacle is the city itself with its historic buildings, monuments and intractably bohemian inhabitants, all required to be swept away in pursuit of wealth. It falls to the Madwoman of Chaillot (Lucy Breyer), an eccentric countess who acts as the core of creative thought, and the everyday people of Paris to stop darkness from taking control of their world.

The Civic Players cast of 20 features Lucy Breyer (The Countess Aurelia- Madwoman of Chaillot), Robert Hegeman (as the Prospector), Robin MacDuffie (The President), Steven Leifer (The Baron), Alan Angelo (The Broker), Melissa Brown (Countess Constance), Christine Vermilyea (Countess Gabrielle), Susan Katz (Countess Josephine), Scott Colehamer (Policeman), John Quinan (Sewer Man), Macy Williams (deaf child), David Barnert (street musician), Siobhan Shea (Irma, the Waitress), Fred Skirois (ragpicker), Kaleb Bermudez (little boy), Amelia Hughes (little girl), Ryan Gillotti (Pierre). Several of the above play multiple roles along with Matt Bermudez, Melissa Hughes, and David Weiner.

The Madwoman of Chaillot runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (October 12, 13, 14) and Wednesday through Sunday (October 17 through 21). Friday and Saturday curtains are at 8 pm. Wednesday and Thursday curtains are at 7:30 pm., and Sundays are matinees only at 2:30 pm.

Tickets are $20. Order on-line at www.civicplayers.org or call (518) 382-2081.