The newest production from the UA School of Theatre Arts, “”Leading Ladies,”” is a concoction of comedy, cross-dressing and love.
“”There’s two guys, and they’re out-of-work Shakespearean actors and they find that there’s an inheritance that is worth quite a lot of money,”” said Brad Kula, a theatre production junior, who plays one of the actors, Jack Gable.
The inheritance is being offered by Florence Snyder, an old woman from York, Pa.
“”She is looking for her two long-lost cousins and she wants to find them because she wants to leave all of her inheritance to them and her niece,”” said Charlotte Bernhardt, a theatre production senior , who plays the niece, Meg.
When the two actors discover that those eligible for the inheritance are female, they decide to dress up as women.
“”It turns into this big fiasco, in which the men, as women, fall in love with two of the women who are at the house with Florence,”” Bernhardt said. “”It’s quite a disaster that ends up being a fairy tale at the end, and everybody lives happily ever after.””
Both Kula and Bernhardt face challenges while assuming their roles.
“”There’s a different set of social standards for men and women and it’s not really talked about, because all the women are assumed to know the women’s role and all the men are assumed to know the men’s role,”” Kula said. “”It’s weird for me to get into those social standards that women have to adhere to, especially in the ’50s.””
For Bernhardt, playing Meg is stepping outside of her usual portrayals.
“”I haven’t played many na’ve, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed roles before. So this is quite a change in my character type,”” Bernhardt said. “”I usually play strong, smart, dominating female characters, and she’s quite the opposite in the beginning of the show. But she actually takes quite a journey to become much stronger by the end.””
Although there were challenges, both actors found the parts rewarding.
“”Just being in the role itself (is exciting),”” Bernhardt said. “”Everything about the show is enjoyable.””
“”The most exciting part is just working with the cast,”” Kula said. “”It’s a really great cast. We work well together.””
The play also offers the audience an enjoyable experience.
“”It’s organized chaos that has love and comedy and elements of Shakespeare,”” Bernhardt said. “”It has everything you could ever want wrapped up into a little bundle of farce.””
It’s also a special opportunity for the men attempting to woo the female of their choice.
“”If they’ve got a classy date, and they want to take this chick out and impress them, and they’re like, ‘Hey, I’m going to take them out to the theater,'”” Kula said. “”Chicks dig that, you know?””
ART Presents
Leading Ladies
Marroney Theatre
March 4-7, 12-14, 26-28 7:30 p.m.
March 8, 14, 29 1:30 p.m.
general $28, student $19
