Music And The Arts "LYSISTRATA" AT ILAM

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 8

Music And The Arts "LYSISTRATA" AT ILAM

Members of the University of Canterbury Drama Society are in the final stages of preparation for their production of the Greek play, Lysistrata, which is to open in the Ngaio Marsh Theatre next Monday. The play, written by Aristophanes in 412 8.C., is being produced by Edward Fardell, who has also designed

the sets with the help of Francis Porterfield.

Mr Fardell is playing down the bawdy aspects of the play in his production. "Aristophanes wrote ‘Lysistrata’ in an attempt to eave, by comedy, Greece from the ruins of civil war," he said. “Although’ the attempt failed, the serious points that the comedy makes about war and peace remain, and have the sharpest relevance today. Because of this I decided to keep all the comical aspects of the play in hand. “I have done away with the phallic symbols, and sought consistent characterisation

from the actors to prevent this type of bawdy comedy from becoming tiresome. “The play derives its comedy both from the situations of its characters and from double entendres,” he said. The set which Mr Fardell and Mr Porterfield have designed requires no moving, and this, with the music composed for the play by John Purvis, should ensure a fast flow of movement within the scenes and also between scenes. ■ *• ;" Both costumes and set follow the translation by Dudley Fitts, ifi that while they retain the classical structure of the work, the designers have had a free hand, especially with colour.

The play will run for seven nights, in association with the university’s arts festival.