Theatre Arts

Background

With dramaturg Jane Arden, McCormick modified Alfred Jarry's script from the French to make the play offensive and ridiculous for a modern audience as well as to fold in modern references. In Spring of 2008, McCormick directed the show in Mount Holyoke's Gettell Amphitheater. The show was produced through PROJECT:Theatre with help from Mount Holyoke College's Office of Student Programs and support from other departments, including the department of Computer Science.

Production Information

Ubu Roi went up at Mount Holyoke College in the outdoor Gettell Amphitheater on 18-20 April 2008 fueled by an all-female ensemble cast of nine.

All actors portrayed their various roles (including characters like "Papa Turd" and "Mama Turd" as well as "The Rats", "The Entire Russian Army", "A Bear", etc.) with stylized, puppet-like movements in keeping with the play's origins as a puppet show. All actors also wore phalli in keeping with the show's lewd and absurdist tone.

With music that spanned across Wagner, Cirque du Soleil, and the Dixie Chicks, Ubu Roi created a springtime ruckus.

Resources

Ubu Roi: Production Poster (PDF Format)

Ubu Roi: Production Program (PDF Format)

The Beginning - Puppets Awake		Wenceslaus's Court
The Slaying of the Royal Family	Buggerlaus in Ecstasy	Race for Gold
The Orgy Lasts Till Morning	The Rats Save Bordure	Fallen Soldier
Alexis's Court	Bordure at Arms	Pile-Coccyx and the Bear
Papa Turd Praying	Escaping from the Cave	The End - On the Sea

All production photographs taken by V. Roux.
Graphic Designs for the program and poster created by Nicole Koch.