Place: Spain - Time: 18th Century
A tale
by the celebrated Spanish author, Federico García Lorca.
Although he was
executed at age 38 during the Spanish Civil War, Lorca’s works survive
and are
now considered the best Spanish plays of the twentieth century. This
play,
characterized as an erotic lace-paper valentine in four scenes, centers
on the
relationship of an old man and his young wife. In this dark-edged farce
the old
Don Perlimplín awakens the morning after his wedding night
wearing cuckold’s
horns and finding evidence that there have been five visitors in the
night. He
then chooses a most unexpected course of action to deal with his wife’s
suitors. —Dramatic
Pub. Co. Catalog.
Director's Notes about The Love of Don Perlimplin
At first glance, you may be wondering why these two plays (along with Simply Maria)
should be performed together in the same evening. Although they display
different types, styles and time periods, below the surface, they share
more in common than a balcony. Both Belisa in Don Perlimplin, and Maria in Simply Maria
face the idea of forced marriages while they struggle to find their own
sense of fulfillment; for Belisa it’s true love and for Maria it’s
college and independence. Also, both Don Perlimplin and Carmen are
willing to endure their partner’s infidelity for the fleeting promise
of love from the spouses they adore.
When I read Josefina Lopez’s notes on Simply Maria,
I knew that she was writing specifically about the culture she grew up
in, but her experiences struck a chord of recognition within me. The
character of her father, Ricardo, reminded me a lot of my own Irish
immigrant grandfather - different accent, same point of view. My
first-generation American mother, who was the salutatorian of her
graduating class, was offered a full scholarship to Rosary College, but
her parents did not let her accept it. She was the eldest of six
children, and they were waiting impatiently for her to graduate so she
could go to work and help out the family. In honor of her sacrifice,
and the journey of all immigrant women and their daughters who struggle
to recreate their identities in the American dream, I dedicate this
show to my mother, Terese O’Keefe.
Special thanks to: Rodney Higginbotham, Anna Antaramian and Dan Wirth
for their support, Michael Montenegro for the spectacular masks in
Simply Maria, and Ruthann Schallert Wygal for her lovely arrangements
of music in Don Perlimplin.
What is the significance of the horns that suddenly appear on Don Perlimplin the morning after his wedding night? Traditionally, these horns are the sign of a man whose wife has been unfaithful to him. The "wearing of the horns" is based on a legendary custom in ancient European villages in which a man would be forced to wear antlers on his head if his wife gave birth to a child that was clearly not his. The word "cuckold" is a reference to the cuckoo bird, who lays it’s eggs in another bird’s nest. Even if this humiliating ritual never really occurred, there are numerous references in literature to women "putting the horns" on their husband’s heads.
Belisa.....Stephanie Tichenor
Marcolfa.....Melanie McCoy
Belisa’s Mother.....Carrie Peters
Sprite 1.....Elizabeth Roig
Sprite 2.....Candice Liapis
Belisa’s Lovers.....Alexis Ginay
.....Juan Montano
.....Jesse Menendez
.....Bryan Avis
.....Eric Lopez
Guitarist.....Eric Lopez
Vocalist.....Linnea Carrera
Clark
T. Weber (Don Perlimplin) is a senior at Northeastern majoring
in Communication with a minor in theatre. He has lived and performed in
Chicago since 1987. Although, this is his first role in a Stage Center
production, he was last involved in the Stage Center’s production of
Buried Child as the stage manger. For the past five years, he has been
the alter ego of the Seadog Speedboat Rides mascot on Navy Pier. Other
past stage credits include Dickie Despin in Tony’s & Tony’s
Wedding, Woody Allen in Hollywood Squares Live!, and Judas in Jesus The
Wonder Years-The Musical. He is currently appearing in the Children’s
Theatre Workshop production of Happily Ever After. Other acting credits
include Photo Assistant #1 in the film Baby’s Day Out, as juror Harvey
Pilsky in the TV show Early Edition and as a nerd in the music video
Short Short Man. He has also sung with the DePaul Community Chorus.
Clark would like to thank his grandmother for all her love and support
and give props to all his talented fellow cast members and the hard
working crew.
Stephanie Tichenor, (Belisa) a true southern belle, is originally from New Orleans. She is a junior Communication major and Theatre minor here at NEIU. She was last seen on stage in Stage Center’s production of Life is a Dream. She is thrilled to be working with such a giving, talented, not to mention incredibly good looking cast, director and crew, She would like to thank her friends, family and monkey for their constant love and support.
Melanie S. McCoy (Marcolfa) is finishing her final semester studying Communication, Media and Theatre here at NEIU. She is excited to be acting with some of the most talented actors in the world. You may remember Melanie from such NEIU productions such as: Little Murders (Wedding Guest) and The Way of All Fish (Miss Riverton). Melanie would like to thank Professor O’Keefe for this opportunity. She would also like to thank her loving family for their support, and those amazing friends who helped her through some tough times.
Carrie Peters (Belisa's Mother) is a senior at NEIU majoring in Communication, Theater and Media. She appeared in the Stage Center production of Way of All Fish. With love and thanks to Rebecca, her most important production of all.
Liz Roig (Sprite 1) was last seen performing a one-woman Othello in the downtown “L” stations. She was raised from infancy by a pack of wolverines and a sherpa. She is currently a freshman and hopes to graduate next fall. She will then be traveling to Europe in a canoe to study belly dancing with Dame Andrew. She would like to thank herself for being so fabulous and her pet, Charles, a double chimera she rescued from a fate worse than death. She would also like to thank her ghost writer Conchita Macbeth.
Candice Liapis (Sprite 2) is a junior at NEIU, majoring in
Communication and minoring in Theatre. This is the first time she has
ever been on stage and she is very excited. She was also the assistant
stage manager for Buried Child last semester. She would like to thank
Ellen O’Keefe for giving her a shot! And give a peace sign to all my
friends! You too mom!!
Alexis
S. Ginay (Belisa's Lover) is an accomplished artist who likes to work in
pastels (although jeans and a white t-shirt will suffice). This is Mr.
Ginay’s second appearance in a mainstage production at NEIU having made
his first mainstage appearance in Life is a Dream, after his home
planet exploded and his spacecraft mysteriously landed in the college
parking lot! He would like to thank the director and cast for teaching
him the earthly ways!
Juan Nezahualcoytl Montaño (Belisa's Lover) is a
freshman at NEIU. His long overdue return on stage is shadowed by a
very long absence. Having played a minor part as Putnam in The Crucible
and the lead in Romeo and Juliet, he believes it is time to return to
the spotlight. An aspiring poet and actor, his love for theatre is ever
growing. Shakespeare, Neruda, Lorca, Poe, Piñero, Baudelaire,
Luis J. Rodriguez and Valdez are among the influences in Juan’s dreams
and aspirations. He would like to thank all his friends and family for
their support, friendship and love. Being part of a great, talented,
and good looking cast is a privilege he is grateful for.
Jesse
Menendez (Belisa's Lover) is a student of the game. He has been an actor for
the past 3 weeks and has appeared in the one man show the Three Men and
a Baby. Jesse was also best boy on the set of Muppets Take Manhattan.
He hopes to one day star as Balki Bartokomous in the stage version of
the popular 90s sitcom Perfect Strangers. Among Jesse’s many
accomplishments are learning to crawl and eventually walking at the
tender age of 11. Jesse would like to thank Ellen O’Keefe and the cast
for telling him that acid washed jeans are a thing of the past and
sporks are not to be used at fine dining events.
Bryan
Edward Avis (Belisa's Lover) will be finally
graduating this semester and he couldn’t be more thrilled. He was last
seen in We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay and The Case of the Crushed
Petunias. He also directed a studio series last year, Water and Wine.
In addition to acting and directing, he is also a runway/print model.
After graduation, Mr. Avis will take a much needed vacation touring the
South Pacific in May. He wants to thank all positive cast and crew
members (except Candi who kept sticking out her tongue and making him
laugh, just kidding, love ya babe!) as well as send a special thank-you
to Anna Antaramian, Melanie, Freddy, Tom & his grandmother Victoria
for all positive and constructive criticism (no matter how much he
hated it) throughout the years and lastly, my dogs, Loo-e, Mina and
Moonflower, i love you. “I know God exists because I can see Him in
you!”
Eric
Lopez (Belisa's Lover, Guitarist) has been spelling words since 1987. After
receiving his first pictionary at the tender age of 4, he’s been
enamored with the art of spelling ever since. As a Junior Achiever he
joined the cut-throat spelling bee circuit at his elementary school.
With his extensive vocabulary in hand, and the thirst of correct
spelling in his soul, Eric can often be found at junior high spelling
bee tournaments annihilating his competition, marring their home videos
and… their dreams. If you walk down the halls of NEIU, you can hear
Eric explaining the difference between their, there, and they’re to his
grammatically challenged peers. Eric challenges anyone to ask him to
spell mnemonic, pterodactyl, and xylophone. His spelling bee background
has helped him to perfectly articulate his lines during NEIU theatre
productions. Eric would like to thank Sesame Street, Webster’s
Dictionary, the makers of the kids toy “Spell and Check,” goawaykids,
needle$$, his family, and all of the people he’s outspelled over the
years.
Linnea
Carrera (Vocalist) is in her third year of higher education and having
finally decided on Communications as her major, she may actually
graduate in under seven years, although that is not likely. This is her
second show here at NEIU; she played Mrs. Drudge in The Real Inspector
Hound in the fall. Linnea is very excited to be a part of this
production and a member of this fantabulous cast. She most particularly
wants to thank Lorena and her mom for saying words at her over the
phone till she got them right and also wants to thank her friends and
family for being just so darn cool.
