Posted on Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Theatre Westminster will present "The Count of Monte Cristo" Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 10-12, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2:30 p.m. in Beeghly Theater.
"Marshall Borden spent 20 years preparing his adaptation of the Alexander Dumas novel, "The Count of Monte Cristo," said Eileen Hendrickson, director of the play. "It had its professional debut at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario in the summer of 2004. I saw the play, and was inspired by the script, so I contacted the Stratford director for information. He put me in touch with Mr. Borden, and after a telephone call we were granted the right to be one of the first colleges to produce his script."
In addition to Hendrickson, the production involves approximately 65 Westminster students as the cast and crew. Dr. Nancy DeSalvo, assistant professor of music and Chair of the Department of Music, researched and selected the music; and Academic Dean and Vice President Dr. Jesse Mann plays Andre Morrell, the owner of the ship, the Pharcon.
Dumas' story is about Edmond, a young sailor who returns to marry the beautiful Mercedes, but is caught up in a political intrigue. The sailor's friend Fernand, who is also in love with Mercedes, and the ships purser, Danglars, betray Edmond to the authorities, and he is imprisoned for many years. Fernand finally marries Mercedes, and a prisoner, Abbe Faria, shares his secret of a long-lost treasure with Edmond. After Abbe dies, Edmond escapes, retrieves the treasure, and sets out to track down those who wronged him. His pursuit of vengeance, is complicated when Mercedes reveals to him the secret she has kept for so many years.
To reserve tickets, contact the Beeghly Box Office at (724) 946-7241 after Nov. 3. General public tickets are $8, while student and senior tickets are $6. Each Westminster College student can reserve a free ticket, and Westminster employees can reserve two free tickets.
Contact Hendrickson at (724) 946-7237 or e-mail hendrice@westminster.edu for more information.
