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The Misanthrope by Epic Risk Theatre 
Moliere's Misanthrope has been transplanted to San Diego as a local rock star, and with the most entertaining results! This updated adaptation by Andrew Gall and Megan Powell was first done in Chicago and, at the request of Director and Epic Risk Theatre Company founder Robert May, was revised for the San Diego scene. Gall and Powell manage to keep the rhyme and remain true to Moliere's story, but their smartly-done modernizing gives the tale a hilarious new lease on life and makes it a roaring success as the inaugural play of the new theatre company.
Robert May was able to assemble some of San Diego's best for his theatre's debut performance headed by Don Loper as Alceste, aka "The Misanthrope" -- an idealistic rock star who is quick, or even eager, to point out the flaws in others. One of his favorite pet peeves is "artists" who sell out to commercialism. Sort of like his Brittany Spears-wannabe, fame-hungry girlfriend, Cecelia (Lisel M. Gorell). So how does he justify being in love with someone who represents everything he stands against? But that's just exactly what drew him to her! As Cecelia, glitter-covered Lisel dances, tosses her hair, and sings far better than the better-known Brittany, but she really steals the stage while backstage as the vain, flirtatious, backstabbing starlet on the rise. Fred Harlow is a riot as the professional comedian and very amateur hip-hop artist who seeks Alceste's opinion of his brand new rap -- an opinion that Alceste is at first hesitant to give, but then relishes in the opportunity to rip the rapper. D. Candis Paule plays Alceste's calm, level-headed lesbian sister who vainly tries the use of logic to convince Alceste to leave Cecelia for the San Diego Reader reporter, Eli (Anne Tran), while she really wants Eli for herself. Anne makes for a smooth, inconspicuous, yet terribly clumsy reporter who subtly gets her story, and more. And finally, Wendy Waddell is bitingly bitter as Marlowe, who is just as misanthropic ... I mean, just as idealistic as Alceste and therefore thinks she and Alceste would make for a perfect match. How will all these outrageous characters end up by the end of the story? Probably not too much different from whence they started, with their hypocrisy and self-delusion still nicely intact. But it's not a total loss. For it is their vices that make them such fun to watch! And you can watch it by going to the McDonald Mori Performing Arts Center between now and December 16th. The small, intimate theatre puts you right in the thick of things as the misanthropy begins to fly. Catch it! Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Phyl: D. Candis Paule Alceste: Don Loper Trey: Fred Harlow Cecelia: Lisel M. Gorell Roadie(s): Lesley Gurule Eli: Anne Tran Alexander: Cliff Odle Enrique: Chad Sakamoto Marlowe: Wendy Waddell Director: Robert May Producer: D. Candis Paule Scenic Designer: Louie Vener Lighting Designer: Pam Sherman Costume Designer: Sheila Rosen Sound Designer: Jeff Jones Choreographer: Cherry Lorenzana Stage Manager: Crystal Verdon Dramaturg: Scott Horstein |
