Director Michael O’Brien takes a comedy classic and, with the help of his cast and crew, he places a modern spin on a story focused on love and greed. By taking on “The Miser,” O’Brien’s goal was to create a scenario with the cast that allows them to shine the light on very real and true circumstances in a hilarious way. And unlike other productions this theatre season, this specific play is full of only Parkland students.
“The Miser” will be performed four times, all this week. Three performances at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 21 and 22, and one at 3 p.m. on Feb. 23. Click here, to purchase or for more information on tickets.
When choosing his cast, he decided to play theatre games to ensure that the chemistry that will be shown on stage is authentic. Doing the auditions that way showed him who would be willing to be uninhibited. Being able to have fun and being willing to make fools of themselves was very important in finding people to fill the cast.
When going to see “The Miser,” be ready for a great time, with good laughs and some slapstick comedy. The stereotypes surrounding greed are timeless, which makes taking this story from the mid-1600s and applying it to the modern world we live in now a full-circle moment. Stepping away from the historical perspective, it is a production that offers the audience an opportunity to escape reality for a few hours and laugh at things that are inevitably ingrained into our society.
O’Brien and his crew wanted to create a show that confronted the things that make us laugh at the truth while still respecting Moliere’s work. They all contributed to the artistic theory of what and how they wanted the production to be.
O’Brien makes for the perfect individual to direct this particular story because he has taught about “The Miser” for years. Directing it now allows him to stand on the opposite side of it. In collaborating with not only his own interpretations but the ones of his crew, together, they hope to put on a memorable show. Again click here to purchase or for more information on tickets.
