By: Michaiah Varnes//
Hood College Theatre is preparing for two fall productions– “Tell Me Something Good” and “Orlando.”
Assistant professor of English Aaron Angello will direct both plays.
A large turnout came for auditions, which were held earlier in September, Angello said.
“Orlando” is a Sarah Ruhl adaptation of the classic Virginia Woolf novel that was published in 1927.
The backstory of Orlando starts around 1600, when he was a courtier and a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, and follows his life to 1927, when he changes genders and becomes a woman.
“It’s a really crazy kind of experimental novel from the early 20th century,” Angello said.
Ruhl reimagines a difficult novel in a way that makes it really theatrical and fun, Angello said.
Seven actors play 20 roles in the play.
“It’s not meant to be realistic, so they get to jump in and it’s very showy and performative,” Angello said.
Angello explains that Woolf intentionally played around with ideas of gender in the novels as a way of exploring what it means to be a woman.
“It sort of embraces the idea of gender fluidity and the complications around gender. Theater has always been a place where queer artists have found a home. And I think that Hood still is,” Angello said.
“Orlando” is set to open Oct. 14 in the Black Box Theatre and run until Oct. 16.
“Tell Me Something Good,” a play bout disparate characters entangled in self-doubt, will open on Oct. 21 and run until Oct. 23.
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